Greece’s authorities announced a package of stricter measures for Athens and the broader region of Attica in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The measures come two days after another series of restrictions were imposed.
The additional measures include stricter crowd control, return to work from home for private and public sectors, restrictions in social events, and quarantine of asymptomatic vulnerable groups such as migrants.
Justifying the necessity for additional measures, health committee spokesman Gkikas Magiorkinis said that infections in Attica almost doubled the last two weeks, with the center of Athens being particularly loaded. The rate of intubations also doubled, in less than two weeks.
Citing statistics, head of Civil Protection Nikos Hardalias said that of the currently 4,084 active cases, 2,100 are located in Attica and 966 of them live in the Municipality of Athens.
A daily rate of 3 new confirmed cases per 100,000 residents places Attica in the “orange alert category” Hardalias said.
The highest rate of infections are noted in the following three groups: private sector employees (29.07%), pensioners (13.43%) and unemployed (13.27%).
The additional measures to be in force from 21. September to 4. October 2020 are:
-Indoor and outdoor gatherings are limited to 9 people, except for areas already regulated, such as restaurants
– Indoor and outdoor concerts are suspended, as are indoor film screenings
– Baptisms, weddings and funerals may have a maximum of 20 people
– People from vulnerable groups such as migrants who have tested positive to the virus but are asymptomatic will be transferred to hotels and be under medical care there.
– 40% of private and public business employees must work from home
– Public sector employees must arrive at and depart from work in three stages (at 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00 a.m.)
– Private sector companies must do the same, but at four stages
– People 65 or older must limit their social outings for 14 days, and their contacts to immediate family members.
Hardalias said that the National Public Health Organization (EODY) will conduct rapid testing for the virus at schools, public transportation and hospitals.
He urged people to observe three preventative measures to help the effort to control infections. These are: avoid public gatherings; use a mask on public transportation; and be more vigilant if they belong to older age groups.
More information on coronavirus in Greece here.
