Malls and shopping centers, excluded from the stores that already reopened in Greece this month, will be permitted to operate starting on Saturday in Greece, according to the latest Covid-19 restrictions.
Shoppers in Thessaloniki and Kozani will be able to make purchases inside stores by appointment, or “click-in-shop,” on Saturday, whereas previously they could only shop by “click-away,” or on a curbside pickup basis.
Malls and superstores across the country will operate by the same “click in shop” procedure.
Additionally, according to the decision that followed approval by Greece’s committee of epidemiologists, beauty centers — which offer makeup, facials, and other cosmetic services — will be permitted to open beginning on Saturday.
The decision moves the country one step closer to easing its lockdown altogether, which is expected to occur in mid-May.
By then, all restaurants and cafes, along with middle and elementary schools, will be open in the country. Additionally, Greece is set to welcome international tourists on May 14.
Greece records 2,754 Covid-19 cases, 819 intubations, 76 deaths
Greece recorded 2,754 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday, which marks five fewer instances of the virus than the 2,759 cases recorded on Thursday.
Additionally, the country recorded 819 patients with Covid-19 on ventilators on Friday, which is three fewer than the 822 patients undergoing the invasive treatment in the country yesterday, Thursday.
A total of 66,362 coronavirus tests were conducted across the country during the day, bringing the positivity rate to 4.15% in Greece, down from 4.3% yesterday.
Tragically, 76 people suffering from the coronavirus passed away in the country over the past 24-hour period, which represents one more than those who died with the virus on Thursday.
1,355 cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in Attica alone; 343 in Thessaloniki
Of the 2,754 new coronavirus cases recorded in Greece in the past 24 hours, 1,355 were located in Attica, home to the Greek capital city of Athens.
Instances of the virus were particularly high in the center of the city itself, where 402 cases of Covid-19 were identified Friday.
Tests showed that in Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, a total of 343 cases of Covid-19 had been diagnosed in the last 24 hours.
Decision on Easter travel handed down on Friday
On Friday, Greece announced more severe restrictions of movement for its residents in order to avoid a spike of coronavirus cases due to Easter celebrations. Traditionally, Athenians and other city dwellers return to their ancestors’ rural villages for Easter.
The government announced that there will be stricter checks on movement until May 10th in order to avoid spreading the coronavirus from more densely populated areas to the rest of the country.
The Joint Ministerial decision published on Friday outlined emergency measures to restrict the movement of citizens which will be valid across the country until 6:00 AM on May 10.
The ban impacts inter-regional travel particularly in the Attica region, but it also will be in effect across the country. The new rules now ban:
a) Travel out of the region of one’s residence;
b) Travel to or away from the Islands Regional Unit;
c) Travel for the purpose agricultural harvesting.
Over 10,000 police are on duty Friday, checking for violations of the restrictions on movement across the country.
This has caused a major traffic block at the tolls in Elefsina, and according to reports many are being fined for attempting to leave Athens for Easter without valid documentation.
Fines for breaking the laws on restriction of movement are set at €300 ($361). Those who falsify documents in an attempt to get out of the city for Easter are liable to a higher fine of €500 ($603).
Over 300,000 total cases of Covid-19 identified in the country
Since the beginning of the pandemic, a total of 329,134 cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in the country, including all those who have recovered from the virus.
Of the cases diagnosed in Greece in the past seven days, just 65 are associated with foreign travel and 3,094 have been linked to contact with a known case.
Of the 819 patients intubated currently, 84.5% are over the age of 70 or suffer from preexisting conditions. Their average age is 68.
On Friday alone, 456 people with the coronavirus were admitted to hospitals in Greece.
Additionally, a total of 2,003 patients have been discharged from ICUs around the country since the beginning of the pandemic.
The 76 new deaths recorded on Friday bring the total number of fatalities in the country to 9,864; 95.5% of those who have passed away with the virus were over the age of 70 or suffered from underlying health issues.
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