Greeks to spend Christmas in lockdown after restrictions extended until January 7

·

Greece on Monday extended its lockdown measures until January 7 to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

In a televised briefing, government spokesman, Stelios Petsas, said the health system was still under enormous pressure and some restrictions should not be lifted until next month, including a night curfew and movement between regions.

Schools, restaurants, bars, courts and ski resorts will also remain closed until that date, Mr Petsas said.

The owner of a shop selling Christmas decoration products wears a protective face mask at the entrance of his shop, during the coronavirus pandemic, in Athens, Greece, December 7, 2020. Photo: Reuters/Alkis Konstantinidis.

By the end of the week, the government will make further decisions on the operation of churches, hair salons and the retail sector.

Greece has registered 115,471 cases of coronavirus and 3,092 deaths in total.

The country had to enforce a nationwide lockdown in November, its second this year, after an aggressive surge in COVID-19 cases. It has extended it twice since then, most recently until December 14.

10-day preventive quarantine for those returning to Greece from abroad:

During the same televised briefing, Mr Petsas confirmed that travelers returning to Greece from abroad will be placed in 10-day preventive quarantine. The measure will be in effect from 18 December 2020 until 7 January 2021.

He stressed that the 10-day quarantine will be an additional measure to the Passenger Location Form (PLF) and the negative molecular COVID-19 test carried out 72 hours before arrival.

This move was made in an attempt to restrict transmission of the coronavirus over the holiday season.

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Latest News

‘Back yourself’: Justice Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson on a life in law and breaking barriers

Raised between Queensland and Sydney, she learned from a young age what it meant to stand slightly outside the mainstream.

Nisyros enters a new era following UNESCO Geopark recognition

Nisyros in the southern Aegean is entering a new phase of development after joining the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network in 2025.

Giving voice to the unseen: Margaret Skagias and the CaringKids movement

Skagias will share her insights as a panellist at the Greek Festival of Sydney’s International Women’s Day ‘Balance the Scales’ event.

Team Agapes raises $12,000 for women’s services at International Women’s Day event

A group of women inspired by the Greek ideal of agape – unconditional love and charity – is continuing to make a meaningful impact.

How a Mexican drink sponsored a Greek-Melbourne football club

At the 38th Antipodes Festival on Lonsdale Street, one stall turned heads: a well-known Mexican soft drink.

You May Also Like

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias requests US military presence in northern Greece

Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, told lawmakers on Tuesday that Athens wants American military presence in Greece.

Greek teacher, Petros Damianos, creates TV classes for inmates

Petros Damianos, Director of the school at Greece’s Avlona Special Youth Detention Center, has created TV classes for inmates.

A fly on the wall at the Global ‘Women and Hellenism’ Conference in Ioannina

The conference is the brainchild of Varvara Athanasiou-Ioannou, originally from Ioannina, Greece, who arrived in Australia at age 18.