Greece: vaccinated can move almost without restrictions

The Greek government has decided to lift almost all restrictive measures for vaccinated individuals, even in areas marked as “red” zones.

On Wednesday the government decidedthat as of this Saturday there will be no curfew or a ban on music in indoor food service and entertainment venues in red code zones. In addition, there will be no restrictions on the number of visitors allowed to entertainments throughout the country. This means that they will not have a minimum distance between tables and a ban on regular visitors. With one, but extremely important, exception – all this applies only to the vaccinated.

Certain exceptions have been introduced for unvaccinated citizens. In particular, they are allowed:

visiting theaters, cinemas, archaeological sites and gyms only with a negative express test, issued no later than 48 hours. travel in Greece by public transport (buses, planes, trains) with a negative PCR test for a period not exceeding 72 hours.

Wherein:

Unvaccinated workers in the private and public sectors will be required to do a rapid test weekly.

Unvaccinated teachers, scientists, tourism, food service, television, film, theater, music, and dance workers are required to take two rapid laboratory tests per week. Unvaccinated students will take a rapid test twice a week, no later than 24 hours before school (although they are still free of charge).

Health Minister Thanos Pleuris, Deputy Minister Mina Gaga and newly appointed head of the National Public Health Organization Professor Theoclis Zautis, who announced the new policy on Wednesday afternoon, said the policy would be revised in 15 days and that the government would also assess restrictions in other public places. and events.

The guiding principle will be that the vaccinated should have the right to do as they please, and the unvaccinated will be forced to vaccinate by all means available, officials said.

Some members of the expert committee advising the government on the pandemic are said to have expressed their skepticism at a meeting prior to the announcement.

Skeptics noted that the pandemic is far from over, as evidenced by the fact that a wide part of the country has been designated as “red.” They also argued that the idea of ​​unlimited entertainment, at least for the vaccinated, is wrong and pointed out the difficulty of ensuring that only those who have been vaccinated enter enclosed spaces.

Dissenting experts noted that disabling the marking of the area as an area with a high incidence of coronavirus from any measures that need to be taken will cause the pandemic to last longer than otherwise.

Greek health authorities announced on Friday, October 8, 2,324 new cases of coronavirus and 22 deaths in the past 24 hours. The number of intubated Covid patients in the intensive care units of hospitals is 334.

In anticipation of the new “freedoms” that will begin this coming Saturday, the authorities urged vaccinated citizens (of course also unvaccinated ones) to continue to wear masks and observe social distancing and hygiene measures.

…



Source link