This morning at 6:00 a.m., new restrictive measures went into effect to curb the spread of the highly contagious «Omicron» variant of SARS-CoV-2. Specifically, according to the details of the measures announced on Wednesday by Health Minister Thanos Plevris:
- Restaurants and entertainment venues will remain open until midnight without music, with a limit of 6 people per table, no standing, and social distancing between tables. An exception is New Year’s Eve, when establishments will be allowed to remain open until 2:00 a.m., subject to all of the above restrictions. Among the restrictions is a ban on holding parties in public or private spaces, to prevent the spread of gatherings to other locations.
The use of high-protection masks (FFP2/KN95) or double masks in supermarkets, on public transportation, and in crowded places, as well as by food service workers, is mandatory.
Implementation of telework in the public and private sectors up to 50% and flexible work schedules, depending on the capabilities of each department.
Visits to long-term care facilities and hospitals are permitted only with a PCR test taken within the past 48 hours, while medical visitors are prohibited from entering healthcare facilities.
At stadiums, the number of vaccinated spectators will be up to 10% of their capacity, with a cap of 1,000 spectators. If these measures are not followed, matches will be held behind closed doors.
It should be noted that the committee of experts met on Wednesday and recommended that the restrictive measures take effect at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 30, and not on January 3, as had been announced.
The measures are in effect from today through January 16.
Furthermore, when detailing the measures, the Minister of Health said that the National Health System (ESY) is primarily treating patients with the «Delta» variant are being treated in the National Health System (ESY), which is under pressure; and taking all factors into account—such as the high transmissibility of the «Omicron» variant—an agreement has been reached with the private sector to support the system if necessary.
Mr. Plevris noted that the «Omicron» variant is prevalent in the community and urged citizens to be especially cautious and to get vaccinated.
In fact, he emphasized that the vaccines provide protection against the «Omicron» variant and that vaccination coverage among the population has recently increased by 10 points. The percentage of people over 60 who have received a booster shot or have scheduled an appointment exceeds 90%.
The minister pointed out that, at this time, it is mainly the younger generations—those aged 18 to 30—who are being affected, and they are generally asymptomatic.
He recommended that anyone with even the slightest symptom or who has been in crowded places should act as if they were infected. Testing should be conducted at family gatherings.
He also noted that the government will reassess the entire framework, including the mandatory nature of vaccinations and the duration for which the certificates will be valid.
In closing, the minister noted that the data give us cause for optimism regarding the course of the pandemic, but do not lead us to become complacent.
ARCHIVE PHOTO
*See the Joint Ministerial Decision outlining the new measures
