The relaxation measures in effect as of today

The expert committee of the Ministry of Health, monitoring the de-escalation of the hard indicators of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic with a reduction in new admissions, total hospitalized patients, intubated patients and deaths, recommended the lifting of the restrictive measures concerning only the activities of fully vaccinated citizens with the aim of a gradual return to the pre-coronavirus situation.

The new easing measures enter into force today. For unvaccinated persons, the previous bans apply.

It remains mandatory to wear a double mask or a high protection mask in supermarkets and public transport, and to wear a mask indoors and outdoors.

The new measures are as follows:

• Lifting of the ban on rectangles in the entertainment sector

• Restoration of school trips

• Increase in the occupancy of the courts in 50%

-Application of teleworking in the private and public sector in 20%

Scientists stress that the lifting of restrictions should under no circumstances be translated as the end of the pandemic. «Let's not forget that almost 20,000 people are infected every day today in the country. However, observing the de-escalation of the hard indicators in a country where 80% of the adult population has already been vaccinated, and understanding the significant burden on all of us of the measures necessary to date, we are starting with small but steady steps to lift some restrictions on moderate risk activities and while of course we will continue to closely monitor the progress of the pandemic,» said Vana Papaevangelou, Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and member of the Expert Committee, during the regular update on the progress of the pandemic.

He added that with the current epidemiological picture of the country and the burden on the National Health System, we are not ready to follow the example of some other European countries, which have already decided to lift all measures.

«It is obvious that we are going through a phase where we will coexist with the virus circulating among us and where each of us will have to make our own decisions about the activities in which we will participate, depending on our age, our health and the presence of vulnerable people in our homes», noted Ms Papayevangelou, hoping that a new variant of the virus will not appear that will overturn the data again.

Efi Fouseki