Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a roadmap for the reopening of business like the food service sector and the schools, the shorter curfew and the lifting of the ban on the inter-regional travel. He also revealed that vaccination of those over 30 will start next week, that is much earlier than initially scheduled.
“We have three important allies: vaccinations, self-tests and the good weather,” he said addressing the nation at 6 o’ clock Wednesday evening.
He added that Greeks cannot travel outside the regional units of their residence over the Easter holidays in order to limit the risk of coronavirus spread.
However, he announced three key dates that will bring some normalcy to Greeks’ lives.
Lockdown Lifting Roadmap
May 3
Reopening of food service sector [restaurants, probably cafes too] with customers sitting outdoors
Night curfew to start at 11 p.m.
May 10
Reopening of primary education schools and Gymnasiums
May 15
Opening of international tourism
Lifting of the ban for inter-regional travel
Allowing some cultural activities
Mitsotakis announced also that the vaccination of citizens over 30 years old will start next week (Holy Week)
He did not say anything on lifting some practical -and meanwhile meaningless measures – such as the sending of SMS to exit home.
There will be possibly more details by the Greek Civil Protection and the Education Ministry in the next days. later.
Tthe Premier said that the situation regarding the coronavirus infections has “stabilized.”
Minutes after his message to the nations, health authorities announced 3015 new cases, 87 deaths in 24 hours and still 831 covid-patients in intubation.
Vaccination of citizens over 30 years old will start next week!!!?
I was speaking to a Greek friend of mine this morning 71 years old and still not had an appointment for his first vaccine.
Yes vaccine is the weapon we need. So could my 71 year old Greek friend, as well as all the other older citizens please have their vaccinations.
While you’re at it Mr Prime minister, on behalf of all the people waiting for the elusive temporary AMKA number, myself included, could you please give the AMKA office a good shaking
Thank you.
How I agree with your comments Chris, I and my friends, all of us pensioners, are desperate to hear that we have the temporary number enabling us to get the jab. We understand that Greece needs to re open for the so important tourists, however,while we wait, remain overlooked and forgotten, we are terrified.
What exactly are you terrified of?
Your own shadow…
I have filled in the ever changing on-line form at emvolio.gov.gr 6 times. I have received spurious and erroneous emails claiming I have made mistakes. The latest version of the form asks for additional info including Mother’s name, address using Greek characters and Greek mobile telephne number. Please make sure you have completed the latest form.
My wife and I are both 75 and are on, what will be in three weeks time, a busy tourist island.
Like so many others I have completed all the paperwork many times to get a temporary AMKA, which I now have but still no further forward with getting the vaccination.
It’s the same for over twenty of us here on Alonnisos which will apparently be open for business in just a few weeks.
I don’t get it.
Open for tourists, but masks outside and sending SMS to go out?
Surely not?
Doubt tourists would want to wear masks walking outdoors or send an SMS to go to the beach.
Last night some Israeli tourists broke the queue at the mini market, and of course, entered without masks. When I complained, they explained in English that they were Israelis and had the vaccine. “No problem,” they said.
But I was livid that they had cut the queue. At least 5 people were waiting to enter. I thought about it later and realized the sign on the door thathad said no more than 3 people in the store , was written only in Greek!
With changing rules and rules mostly in Greek, I suppose we can’t expect them to follow them.
I foresee some chaos, or a reason why Greeks themselves will abandon the measures.
Tourists have been moving around here in Mani with camping cars and “safari-like” vehicles for the past months, absolutely freely. The government will finally be forced to allow the population to go out of a six-month house arrest (the longest lockdown anywhere in the world!) implemented since November 7. This is certainly not out of generosity. The only thing that matters is the money foreign tourists can bring to the nation’s economy. With millions rushing in the next days, beaches overcrowded again until the end of October, we will be back at square one in November.
I just wonder what will happen as soon as one of ‘us’ (unvaccinated, no sign of a temporary AMKA anytime soon, over 55 (for now, the age group that currently SHOULD be eligible to actually schedule a vaccine as of yesterday) becomes seriously ill or, tragically, dies…… assuming we can still get a hospital bed and some oxygen without an AMKA??
After following lockdown procedures religiously since November (really from March 2020!) – and being grateful to live somewhere that felt safe, we’ll soon be subjected to extreme risk when ignorant (vaccines appear to reduce, BUT NOT ELIMINATE, transmission) and selfish (because why should you care if we die providing you get a suntan and get to lay on a beach with a cocktail) tourists arrive en masse (yes, we’ve noticed unfamiliar (tourist) faces already here too, just not yet in numbers we can’t avoid – unless the Prime Minister expects us to stay imprisoned all summer in our homes??
What’s so disappointing and what truly feels like rejection, is reading that the Prime Minister is actively encouraging ‘All Greek Citizens’ to get their vaccinations….. while ignoring those of us who also continue to contribute to the Greek economy (52 weeks a year rather than one or two) but are now somehow ‘unworthy’ (not born here, not working here) or not important enough to be given a temporary AMKA in a timely manner (surely a passport and residence card should suffice to schedule a vaccine appointment….unless the ‘temporary AMKA’ registration is simply a delaying tactic – and we just get what’s left of the vaccine supply, once everyone lucky enough to have an AMKA is offered one first? I’d rather just know the ‘truth’ of the situation. And I truly do understand the government’s desparation to re-open the economy; and I want to HELP make this island a ‘safe’ destination by getting my first vaccination TOMORROW (given the chance!) And I will be more than happy to support the island shops and restaurants, etc – once I’m not terrified of dying, that is….
When the Prime Minister acknowledges “the vast majority of those who are being intubated are now our unvaccinated fellow citizens”, is he knowingly condemning us to this fate in the very near future??