Restrictions to prevent Covid-19 transmission will be gradually lifted from mid-March and a ‘normal’ Easter will most likely follow, Greece’s Health Minister Thanos Pleveris said in an interview on Tuesday. He predicted a “normal” spring and summer, however, he warned of the course of the pandemic “next autumn.”
In an interview with capital.gr, Plevris said that the milder Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus allowed greater optimism in this respect.
“We see that vaccination coverage has reached a very high level in comparison with September 2021 and, according to the scientists’ estimates, we will return to something resembling normality, at least for the next six months,” the minister said.
He added that “Most of the measures will be lifted within March and we will have a ‘normal’ Easter and summer, at least for the vaccinated.”
He warned, however, “we must not be complacent because we don’t know how the pandemic will return in the autumn.”
Greece has seen a gradual decrease of Covid-related deaths, intubations and hospitalizations in the last couple of weeks and has already lifted some restrictions such as standing customers in entertainment venues and bars. However, access to indoor spaces of restaurants and other venues is possible for vaccinated or recovered citizens only.
The use of masks is mandatory in- and outdoors.
Quote “we will have a ‘normal’ Easter and summer, at least for the vaccinated.”
This implies that controls will remain in place, such as proof of vaccination status to enter establishments for everyone throughout the tourist season …… really?
Yep this is very special! Greece is almost the only country in Europe with this kind of restrictions….like they are an island. They want more tourist? It’s not going to work like this…to bad …beautiful country and wonderful people…but this kind of control is strange….
As a long-term tourist expecting to visit Greece for up to 90 days I have found Greece’s measures to be overly extreme compared to other countries I have visited recently (US, Mexico, UK). The masks and vaccines are not necessary for healthy individuals (not to mention side effects) and should be optional for those that find comfort in them. I will leave Greece to spend where I am not hassled when my vaccine ‘expires’ at the end of March if the restrictions are not eliminated.
“… at least for the vaccinated.”
Pure evil. Don’t forget that excludes ppl who’ve taken 2 shots as well. Second class citizens indeed.
I don’t see many masks outdoors where I am. I think people have decided it’s pointless in the open air.
Incompetent bunch of selfdeclared leaders.
This country will be a Zimbabwe 3.0 for ever I am afraid.
Mitsotaki and his merry men continue to show to the world how arrogant and backward thinking they really are.
my wife and i stayed many years in Greece. due to the covid restrictions we checked other options. in short.
1. we started at Chania airport: dead! one airplane standing (no fuel?). shops closed. it was not alowed to have a coffee inside, so people met outside in the sun – nice.
2. airport Athens: graveyard. some airplanes, some restaurants – we were not allowed to eat inside Burger King, but we could take away some food after begging and begging.
3. airport Istanbul, full swing. everything normal. some with mask, some without. restaurant no problem. people relaxed – same as stewardesses. we could breath again since months.
4. airport Sharm el-Sheyk: full swing, everything normal and human. no masks at all, no restrictions. taxi normal, restaurants normals, beaches normal, wonderful corals, fishes. prices less than half of Greece – friendlyness of people more than double.
conclusion: Greece? why? it’s gone…
Well then nothing changes, same crap. Masks I understand in crowded areas and inside..but I am not going to wear them outside – its pointless. Its exhausting to wear them. Drop these bloody restrictions as every where else now…well accept for antivaxxers – they should be punished.
This guy thinks highly of himself. Vaxx’s are higher then in Sept. 2021. Then according to his deep red crayon coloring map he has done nothing to stem this endemic.