Greece is kicking off its second stage of rebooting the economy on Monday, 11 May with retail stores opening at 10am on Monday, and hardware stores allowed to operate from 7am.
Following a partial lifting of lockdown measures, new categories of retail outlets will resume activities and 225,000 employees will head back to work this week (33 per cent of those who had been stood down due to suspension of activities).
The second wave of reopenings will affect 93,000 businesses in Greece (35 per cent of those closed due to coronavirus restrictions).
Greece’s Deputy Development and Investments Minister Nikos Papathanasis said 11 May will see an additional 155,962 workers returning to their jobs, on top of those who returned to their jobs on 4 May 4, or 22.5 per cent.
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Stores reopening include:
- sound and video equipment outlets
- textile products
- glass and hardware
- carpet, floor and wall covering traders
- electric domestic appliance sellers
- furniture, light fitting and other household goods traders
- music and video recording
- toys and apparel
- shoes and leather goods
- cosmetics and beauty care
- clocks, watches and jewellery
- new and used goods traders
Also reopening their shops will be the following services:
- leisure and sports goods rental and leasing
- video and disc rental
- domestic and personal items rental and leasing
- shop in a shop stores
The reopening will be extended to street market traders of textiles, clothing, footwear and other goods, driving schools, betting shops and dietitians.
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Strict rules will be enforced, with retailers allowed up to four customers in shops of up to 20 square metres, four people plus one for each additional 10 square metres in premises up to 100 sq metres square and 12 persons plus one per additional 15 square metres for premises exceeding 100 square metres. Stores with more than one storey will allow one person per 10 sq metres per storey.
In shops with more than one storey, up to one person per 10 square metres per storey are allowed.
Social distancing of 1.5 metres distance will be observed and staff and customers are recommended to wear face masks.
The use of lifts should be avoided, and will be permitted at only 40 per cent capacity and only for the elderly or for supplies.
Driving instructors and students are required to wear face masks.
Street stall vendors will need to keep a minimum distance of five metres per stalls with only half of the original vendors allowed at street markets.