The Greek government is determined to contain the spread of the coronavirus over the Easter holidays and it is even considering to impose a “curfew” for cars over the weekend April 18-19, 2020.
Citing government sources, media report on Tuesday that the government may impose a ban on the circulation of cars starting after the closure of the supermarkets at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday evening and valid until midnight Sunday or even midnight Monday, which is also a holiday.
Aim is to prohibit that Greeks will visit relatives and friends to celebrate the Easter days together as the tradition dictates.
On Monday, government spokesman Stelios Petsas said that “visits to relatives’ and friends’ houses to celebrate Easter is not permitted.”
After the Resurrection on midnight Saturday, Greeks traditionally celebrate with family members, relatives and friends with mageiritsa, a soup made of lamb intestines and dyed eggs. On Easter Sunday the traditional calls for lamb roasted on the spit and kokoretsi and against the same or even expanded entourage around the overloaded table placed in the yards, garden or balcony.
Highway tolls are practically closed as police patrols check motorists whether they have the necessary documents to live the prefecture where they normally live. Those without these papers are fined with 300 euros, have their license plates removed for 60 days and sent back home.
Same controls are being conducted at ports and airports, train and inter-city bus stations.
As the churches have been ordered to conduct the religious services behind closed doors, police patrols will be reportedly placed outside the places of worship on Satuday night.
This Easter will be different, and crowding is not going to happen, the government has been reiterating in all possible tones.
The government spokesman said also on Monday, that there are plans to begin with the gradual lifting of the lockdown restrictions in early May but it remains to be seen whether it was not just an “escape room” statement to calm down the Greeks who will have to give up their most favorite habits over the Easter.
