Coronavirus: Greece to End Outdoor Mask Mandate

Starting on Saturday, the use of face masks will no longer be required in outdoor spaces in Greece.

Previously, according to coronavirus restrictions, Greeks were required to wear masks outdoors, even in areas without crowds.

The outdoor mask mandate ended after Greece’s special committee of epidemiologists and public health experts advised that it was no longer necessary.

Although no longer required, the use of face masks will still be recommended for those with underlying conditions and when one is in an outdoor location with dense crowds.

Currently, Greeks are still required to wear masks indoors. In supermarkets and on public transportation, people must wear either an N95 (or equivalent) mask or two surgical masks.

This step moves Greece closer to “normal” in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, especially for those who have been vaccinated against the virus.

Greek Health Minister Thanos Plevris indicated that, by the end of March, there may be a dramatic reduction in coronavirus measures for those who have been vaccinated.

“We’re moving toward easing the coronavirus restrictions for those who have received the vaccine,” he stated.

“We’re not going to ease the measures for the unvaccinated for the time being, but we are moving toward a full reduction of the measures for vaccinated people.”

15,557 coronavirus cases recorded in Greece Wednesday

Greece confirmed 15,557 new Covid-19 infections and 57 deaths associated with the virus in the last 24 hours, the National Public Health Organization (EODY) announced on Wednesday.

A total of 17,176 cases were recorded in the country the day before, Tuesday, and 52 people had died with the virus during that 24-hour period.

Since the pandemic began, Greece has confirmed a total of 2,454,429 Covid-19 infections. Of the cases recorded in the last seven days, 295 infections are related to travel from abroad and 1,805 to other confirmed cases.

The 57 deaths associated with the coronavirus recorded in the last 24 hours bring the total number of people who have died with the virus in Greece to 25,972. Of those who passed away, 95.1 percent had an underlying condition and/or were aged 70 or over.

A total of 399 coronavirus patients are on ventilators in hospitals on Wednesday, compared to the 408 undergoing the treatment the day before.

The median age of intubated patients is 67 and 89.7 percent have an underlying condition and/or are aged 70 or over. Of the total, 287 (71.93%) are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated and 112 (28.07%) are fully vaccinated.

A total of 4,729 patients have been discharged from ICUs in Greece since the pandemic began.

In addition, 281 Covid-19 patients were admitted to hospitals in the last 24 hours. The average admission of patients with Covid-19 to hospitals over the last seven days was 290.

The median age of those with new infections is 35 years, while the median age of the deceased is 79.