Greek Minister of Shipping and Public Transport urges passengers to wear masks

Due to the sharp an increase in the number of coronavirus infections messages were sent to Greek and foreign passengers on ferries, ships and public transport urging them to wear a mask, especially in crowded places.

Greek Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy Yiannis Plakiotakis on Monday urged ship and ferry passengers to adhere to coronavirus protection measures and wear masks. During a tour of the Cyclades, the minister wrote down and sent a message that “a good summer is a safe summer.”

He urged passengers traveling on ships and ferries to wear a mask at all times while they are indoors, as well as outdoors when there are crowds, such as when boarding and disembarking.

At the same time, the operating company of the metro and trams in Athens, STASY, launched a campaign two days ago encouraging passengers to wear masks. While Greece has abolished the mandatory wearing of masks indoors, the measure continues on public transport, ships and ferries. Interestingly, masks are no longer required for air travel, but this is most likely due to the air purification system.

Since the removal of masks indoors in early June, daily cases of coronavirus gradually increased and reached more than 30,000, including 5,000 reinfections yesterday, Tuesday.

While several members of the committee of epidemiologists advising the government on Covid-19 are advocating the return of masks to the premises, the government appears to be reluctant to take such a measure, which could hurt tourism, in the summer. Unlike the previous two years, islands with a high number of infections do not even have isolation hotels in favorite places.

In a conversation with ANT1, Deputy Minister of Health Mina Gaga said on Wednesday that there are no such plans for the islands, but large urban centers are being discussed.

She said that most of the current infections caused by the Omicron BA4 and BA5 subvariants occur in young adults with mild symptoms such as fever and headaches. However, she added that everyone should wear masks when crowded, and the elderly and citizens with health problems should be given the 4th dose (2nd booster) of the Covid-19 vaccine.

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