Greece eased safety measures against the spread of the coronavirus and with a ministerial decision reduced the safety distance to 1.5 meters from 2. This and some other relaxation measures go into effected from Monday morning, October 25, 2021.
According to the decision published in the Government Gazette, all private and public offices and services, businesses, entertainment and leisure venues, retail stores, etc. can reduce the minimum amount of space between workers and customers regardless of their vaccination status. This applies to both indoor and outdoor spaces, though it was not clear whether it applies to public transportation, schools and universities.
The use of mask is mandatory in all interior spaces including the working places with the exception of those working alone, without the presence of any other person and in outdoor spaces where crowding is being observed, unless exception protocols apply.
Exempted are people with medical conditions such as pulmonary issues – they have to be confirmed with relevant document- and children under 4 years old.
The ministerial decision allows also supermarkets and shopping centers to return to regular operating hours after these were extended last year to facilitate customers whose numbers were reduced because of the stricter physical distancing mandate.
The extended working hours for supermarkets were from 7 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. and for shopping center from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. These businesses retain the option of continuing with this schedule.
The new guidelines went into effect at 6 a.m on Monday morning and will be reviewed on November 8.
The relaxation of the measures come as Greece experience a resurgence of infections especially in northern Greece and 60.8% of population across the country being fully vaccinated.
