Restaurants, entertainment venues and nightclubs are operating under new regulations starting today, and as government officials have stated, inspections will be rigorous to ensure compliance with the measures.
Restaurants, entertainment venues, and nightclubs will operate as follows:
– Until August 31, people are allowed to be present at all entertainment venues only seated customers
– From July 16 through August 31, indoor entertainment venues (restaurants, movie theaters, theaters) may operate only as uncontaminated (COVID-free) at 85% of their capacity
– Specifically for indoor entertainment venues, the following are permitted: only single-use areas with 85% coverage of the usable area, subject to the applicable social distancing requirements and precautionary measures. All entertainment venues, both outdoor and indoor, must also operate in accordance with the social distancing rules that generally apply to restaurants.
– Owners of businesses in the outdoor entertainment sector may choose to voluntarily designate their premises as exclusively indoor facilities
– Minors may enter restaurants and entertainment venues only if self-test and Parent Statement in the unadulterated spaces
Sanctions Framework
1st violation:
– For stores with an area of <200 square meters an administrative fine of 2,000 euros imposed on the business/legal entity and suspension of operations starting the day after the violation for 7 calendar days
– For stores with an area of more than 200 square meters an administrative fine of 5,000 euros imposed on the business/legal entity and suspension of operations starting the day after the violation for 7 calendar days.
2nd violation:
– For all stores, regardless of size, an administrative fine of 10,000 euros and a suspension of operations beginning the day after the violation and lasting for 15 calendar days.
3rd violation:
For all stores, regardless of size, a temporary suspension of the store's operating license for 60 calendar days.
It should be noted that the commission of any of the violations listed in the left-hand column is sufficient to constitute a second or third violation.
Penalties may be imposed even after an infraction has occurred, based on evidence demonstrating the infraction.
Markings
Throughout the public and private sectors, employers have the right to ask whether employees have been vaccinated or not.
From July 16 through August 31, as part of the measures to combat the pandemic, there will be three different types of signage:
– The first one is for designated areas (Covid-Free Zone)
– The second one is for mixed-use spaces, provided they are outdoors (Mixed-Use Space)
– With the third badge, business owners will be able to let their customers know whether all of their staff have been vaccinated or not.
Business owners can download the logos from https://covidfree.gov.gr/
