Lockdown extended another week to Monday, January 11, government announces
The shutdown of retail stores, including hair salons, bookstores and nail salons will be extended for another week to Monday, December 11, Deputy Civil Protection Minister for Crisis Management Nikos Hardalias said on Friday during a live coronavirus-related briefing.
The government had imposed tougher week-long restrictions ahead of opening primary schools this week, including suspending store pick-ups of online purchases ("click-away").
Hardalias said that church services will be held without the presence of the faithful, while individuals may go to church to pray by keeping established measures (including wearing masks and observing social distancing), while funerals may only include a maximum of 9 people, all of whom must be first-degree relatives.
In addition, fishing and hunting is still banned, visits to civil services is limited to emergency ones and only after appointment, while courts will continue to operate but on a very limited basis.
When Super League 2 and Volley League games start on the weekend of January 16-17, there will be no public attendance of games, the minister said, following Super League 1 restrictions.
In addition, all visitors to Greece through January 21, from all countries including the EU's, are obliged to self-isolate at homes or housing facilities for seven days. The requirement to present a coronavirus-free test carried out at most 72 hours before arriving in Greece still stands.
Passengers of flights from abroad will be randomly tested with a rapid test, except for visitors from the United Kingdom, who will all submit to being tested on arrival in Greece. Visitors from the UK, in particular, must submit to a new PCR test when they complete the seven-day isolation in order to be allowed to leave the facility they are at.
All passengers arriving in Greece from abroad must complete the PLF form.
In terms of schools, Hardalias reiterated that pre-kingergarten, kindergartens, primary schools and special needs schools of all levels will open on Monday, January 11. All but the special needs schools will also open in areas under stricter lockdown measures, he said.