Travel to islands to be allowed again from 25 May (probably)
lockdown
13 May 2020
/ 10:46
ATHENS. According to Civil Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias, the only exception will be Crete, which will be ΄opened up΄ again on 18 May.
"The first day of the second phase yesterday went relatively smoothly," said Civil Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias and added that, "In general, it seems that the measures were adhered to."
Based on this, "From Monday 18 May travel will be allowed on mainland Greece and to Crete," he announced in his update and "Our intention is to allow travel to the islands from 25 May," although the decision will be finalised next week based on epidemiological data.
Mr. Hardalias also said that from Sunday 17 May services will be allowed in places of worship again but within strict parameters:
- The number of attendees will be based on the ratio 1 person per 10 sq.m and distances of 1.5m between people.
- As an example, in a church of 800 or 1,000 sq.m. up to 50 people are allowed.
- Face masks continue to be strongly recommended
- The use of antiseptic is compulsory.
The Deputy Minister said that weather forecasts indicate that there will a significant rise in temperatures over the next few days and "We must reiterate the importance of social distancing." He added that lockdown measures for camps and shelters have been extended to 21 May.
On behalf of the Civil Protection General Secretariat he gave public thanks to medical and nursing workers on the occasion of International Nurses Day.
He also mentioned the men and women of the Fire Service, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary, and thanked them all for their "significant" contribution to contact tracing and helping to safeguard and maintain quarantines.
"Lockdown measures are gradually being lifted and we are entering a new phase where hand hygiene, social distancing and masks are the key factors taking us to the next phase," said Mr. Hardalias. "None of us want to return to the situation we were in just recently," he added.
Based on this, "From Monday 18 May travel will be allowed on mainland Greece and to Crete," he announced in his update and "Our intention is to allow travel to the islands from 25 May," although the decision will be finalised next week based on epidemiological data.
Mr. Hardalias also said that from Sunday 17 May services will be allowed in places of worship again but within strict parameters:
- The number of attendees will be based on the ratio 1 person per 10 sq.m and distances of 1.5m between people.
- As an example, in a church of 800 or 1,000 sq.m. up to 50 people are allowed.
- Face masks continue to be strongly recommended
- The use of antiseptic is compulsory.
The Deputy Minister said that weather forecasts indicate that there will a significant rise in temperatures over the next few days and "We must reiterate the importance of social distancing." He added that lockdown measures for camps and shelters have been extended to 21 May.
On behalf of the Civil Protection General Secretariat he gave public thanks to medical and nursing workers on the occasion of International Nurses Day.
He also mentioned the men and women of the Fire Service, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary, and thanked them all for their "significant" contribution to contact tracing and helping to safeguard and maintain quarantines.
"Lockdown measures are gradually being lifted and we are entering a new phase where hand hygiene, social distancing and masks are the key factors taking us to the next phase," said Mr. Hardalias. "None of us want to return to the situation we were in just recently," he added.
