Thanos Plevris: New measures applied from tomorrow morning

Greek Health Minister Thanos Plevris announced the validity of new measures decided during the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Maximos Mansion earlier today and at the meeting of the Health Committee.

The measures will take effect from the early hours of Thursday.

In particular, from tomorrow restaurants will be open until 12 midnight, with the exception in New Year’s Eve, when restaurants will be open until 2 in the morning, without music, in order to minimize the possibility of the COVID-19 spreading.

Detailed measures

• High respiratory protection mask (FFP2 / KN95) or double mask use is mandatory both in supermarkets, means of transport and catering staff.
• Opening hours until 12 midnight, up to 6 people per table and not standing people in entertainment and dining. If the measures are not observed, music will also be banned.
• At the stadiums: Limit to 10% with a maximum of 1,000 people. If the measures are not observed, all the matches will be held behind closed doors.
• In nursing homes and hospitals visitation by PCR.
• Work from home in private and public sector up to 50% and rolling hours. It will depend on the capabilities of each service.

Health system is under pressure due to Delta variation

“As we had previously announced, the government asked the committee to convene to capture the data from the spread of the Omicron mutation in our country. The National Health System mainly treats patients with DELTA.

Omicron is dominant since yesterday. The NHS is still under pressure from Delta and we must assess all the factors for the system to cope. “We are in contact with structures to provide us with beds,” said the Minister of Health.

“The framework of obligation will be re-examined”

The Minister of Health also stressed that “the committee unanimously calls on the citizens to be vaccinated because it protects them from Omicron”.

He added that due to a large vaccination coverage, “we do not have many hospitalizations. The framework of the obligation will be re-examined”, said Mr. Plevris.