Covid-19: New Measures for Restaurants, Travel in Greece

Nikos Chardalias, Greece’s Minister for Civil Protection, announced a series of new Covid-19 measures on Wednesday.

When restaurants and cafes open on May 3, Greeks will be required to send the number six (6) to the toll-free number 13033 in order to be able to go out to eat or to have a coffee.

Currently, the country’s curfew runs from 10 PM to 5 AM. On Monday, May 3, it will move one hour later, starting at 11 PM, and lasting until 5 AM.

Similarly, citizens will still have to send a message for all their other movements until May 15, when Greece has planned its “full opening” to international tourists for the summer season.

Restaurants, cafes to follow strict anti-Covid-19 measures

According to the country’s strict anti-virus measures, all restaurants and cafes will be open for outdoor seating only, with socially-distanced tables — and no music.

The restrictions state the each table can seat a maximum of six people, and customers must sit, not stand.

While waiting to be seated, customers must wear masks. They are also strongly recommended to wear their masks while not eating or drinking, but this is not mandatory.

Additionally, all staff will have to undergo self testing for the coronavirus twice a week and they must wear masks while working.

Inter-regional travel permitted in Greece starting Holy Thursday

On Holy Thursday, tomorrow, inter-regional travel will once again be permitted in Greece.

According to the most recent measures, travel between regions is only allowed on the weekends, but beginning on Thursday it will be permitted throughout the week as well.

Those hoping to leave their region of residence will have to send the number six to 13033.

2,781 coronavirus cases, 805 intubations, and 63 deaths in Greece

Greece recorded 2,781 new cases of the coronavirus on Wednesday, which marks 532 fewer instances of the virus than the 3,313 cases recorded on Tuesday.

Additionally, the country recorded that there were 805 patients with Covid-19 on ventilators on Wednesday, which is eight fewer than the 813 patients undergoing the invasive treatment in the country yesterday, Tuesday.

A total of 61,291 coronavirus tests were conducted across the country during the day, bringing the positivity rate to 4.54% in Greece, slightly up from yesterday’s rate of 4.31%.

Tragically, 63 people suffering from the coronavirus passed away in the country over the past 24-hour period, which represents 29 fewer than those who died with the virus on Tuesday.

1,263 cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in Attica alone; 413 in Thessaloniki

Of the 2,781 new coronavirus cases recorded in Greece in the past 24 hours, 1,263 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 393 cases of Covid-19 were identified Wednesday.

Tests showed that in Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, a total of 413 cases of Covid-19 had been diagnosed in the last 24 hours.

Over 10,000 total deaths with Covid-19 in Greece

Since the beginning of the pandemic, a total of 340,493 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 63 are associated with foreign travel and 2,781 have been linked to contact with a known case.

Of the 805 patients intubated currently, 85.3% are over the age of 70 or suffer from preexisting conditions. Their average age is 68.

On Wednesday alone, 530 people with the coronavirus were admitted to hospitals in Greece.

Additionally, a total of 2,087 patients have been discharged from ICUs around the country since the beginning of the pandemic.

The 63 new deaths recorded on Wednesday bring the total number of fatalities in the country to 10,242; 95.4% of those who have passed away with the virus were over the age of 70 or suffered from underlying health issues.