Lockdown in Greece extended for one week until May 4
lockdown
23 Apr 2020
/ 13:25
ATHENS. Government spokesman announces lockdown will be extended for a week after 27 April - Government looking to end SMS and movement registration when some businesses reopen.
Government spokesman Stelios Petsas announced that the lockdown measures, which were to end on 27 April, will be extended for another week.
The lockdown will be extended until 4 May and Mr. Petsas said that the PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis will make an announcement at the beginning of next week regarding the next stage in tackling the pandemic.
The Government spokesman stressed that the changes will happen in stages in a controlled and planned way.
"We need to continue washing our hands well, avoid touching our face, avoid contact and continue with social distancing. We must adhere to the measures for collective protection as outlined by the experts," he added.
Opening of businesses without SMS
The week's lockdown extension is planned to coincide with an end to the obligation for the public to register movements with SMS to 13033 or certification when businesses start to open. Mr. Petsas confirmed that it was the Government's intention "guided by expert advice, to abolish the obligation to send SMS or have other certification for movements".
Responding to a question regarding schools, he said they were waiting for expert advice before deciding on the stages in which things will be done.
"All these issues will be evaluated on a daily basis because the battle with coronavirus is taking place in 'uncharted territory'," he said.
Regarding the elderly and vulnerable groups, he said that they need to be protected for a longer period of time and will be part of the latter stages of the plan.
The lockdown will be extended until 4 May and Mr. Petsas said that the PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis will make an announcement at the beginning of next week regarding the next stage in tackling the pandemic.
The Government spokesman stressed that the changes will happen in stages in a controlled and planned way.
"We need to continue washing our hands well, avoid touching our face, avoid contact and continue with social distancing. We must adhere to the measures for collective protection as outlined by the experts," he added.
Opening of businesses without SMS
The week's lockdown extension is planned to coincide with an end to the obligation for the public to register movements with SMS to 13033 or certification when businesses start to open. Mr. Petsas confirmed that it was the Government's intention "guided by expert advice, to abolish the obligation to send SMS or have other certification for movements".
Responding to a question regarding schools, he said they were waiting for expert advice before deciding on the stages in which things will be done.
"All these issues will be evaluated on a daily basis because the battle with coronavirus is taking place in 'uncharted territory'," he said.
Regarding the elderly and vulnerable groups, he said that they need to be protected for a longer period of time and will be part of the latter stages of the plan.
