In extraordinary live statements on TV on Wednesday, Head of Civil Protection Nikos Hardalias announced a night curfew across Greece as of Friday, November 13, 2020. The government practically scraps several options to leave home such as enjoy a walk without a pet, go to ATM or even make last minute food purchases as supermarkets close at 09:00 p.m.
There are three exemption reasons for which citizens can go out during the night curfew, however, personal exercise is not allowed during the curfew time.
The night curfew will be from 09:00 p.m. until 05:00 a.m.
However, citizens are allowed to go out only for 3 reasons:
- Work, Health Emergencies, Pet Walking.
For Health and Dog walking citizens must send SMS with the options <1> and <6> respectively.
Workers must have the necessary documents like employers’ certification or self-employed certifications.
Hardalias stressed that pet walking must take place near the residence.
For personal physical exercise in times allowed, Hardalias said that up to 3 people are allowed and it must also take place near the residence. He reiterated that hobby hunting and fishing remain banned during the lockdown period.
Furthermore, the Head of Civil Protection said that private and public sector must periodically have reports of their staff in tele-working.
H also urged TV stations to limit the number of presenters and the number of guests in TV panels.
What is the purpose of night curfew when all restaurants, cafes, bars and entertainment facilities are shut down?
Hardalias said that reason for the night curfew is that they realized people were out of their homes at night for “unnecessary movement.” He added that from November 7, when lockdown was imposed across the country, police carried out over 301,000 control checks.
He implied that citizens have been going out at night to gather at friends or relatives homes, although there is not such mechanism to confirm such a “suspicion.”
SMS providers are not allowed to keep record neither of the going out options during the lockdown, nor how many SMS a specific mobile phone user has sent during the day in order to leave home.
On Tuesday, Minister of Digital Governance Kyriakos Pierrakakis dismissed claims by at least two government officials that a “cap” of home exits was possible.
Pierrakakis said that there is not even an algorithm that would personalize the SMS and therefore could impose a cap.
Furthermore, one should note that imposing a cap is impossible as citizens can go out also adding their data on a printed form or a handwritten note.
For options to go out during the lockdown SMS etc check here.
PS So what is the purpose of a night curfew? Possibly the last, very desperate effort of the Greek government to show that it is going something, while Covid-19 infections explode and hospitals are on the brink of collapse especially in northern Greece.
Now my younger cat insists on a pink leash and a short walk between 9:10 pm-9:20 pm.
