With daily coronavirus infections on the rise, messages and campaigns have been sent to Greek and foreign passengers of ferries, ships and public transport to wear a mask, especially where there is crowding.
Greece’s Shipping and Island Policy Minister Giannis Plakiotakis urged passengers of ships and ferries on Monday to observe protection measures against the coronavirus and wear face masks.
While touring some Cyclades islands, Minister Plakiotakis recorded and sent the message that “a good summer is a safe summer.”
He urged passengers traveling with ships and ferries to wear a mask all the time, while they are indoors, and also outdoors, when there is crowding such as in case of embarking and disembarking.
- Minister Plakiotakis was tested positive with Covid-19 on Wednesday.
At the same time, managing company of metro and tram in Athens STASY has launched a campaign two days ago, urging passengers to wear a mask.
Although Greece lifted the mandatory use of mask in indoor places, the measure remains in public transport, ships and ferries.
It is interesting that masks are no longer needed for traveling with airplanes, this, however, has most likely to do with the air purification system.
Tired of two and a half years of Covid-restrictions, many Greeks – and tourists – do not wear a mask in public transport and they are all in a much more relaxed atmosphere.
Since the lifting of the masks measure indoors beginning of June, daily coronavirus cases have gradually increased to reach over 30,000 including 5,000 reinfections yesterday, Tuesday.
While several members of the Epidemiologists’ Committee advising the government on Covid-19 favor the return of masks indoors, the government seems reluctant to implement such a measure in summer, a measure that could possibly harm tourism.
In contrast to two previous summers, there are not even isolation hotels in favorite destinations on islands with a lot of infections.
Speaking to ANT1 Deputy Health Minister Mina Gaga said on Wednesday that there are not such plans for the islands, but they are discussing about only for big urban centers.
She said that the majority of current infections caused by the Omicron sub-variants BA4 and BA5 are young people with mild symptoms such as fever and headaches.
She added, however, the people should wear a mask when there is crowding and elderly and citizens with health issues should be administered the 4th dose (2nd booster shot) of vaccines against Covid-19.
There is no need for any significant action before the election.