A public awareness campaign is being launched at the end of the year by Greece’s Health Ministry.
On Friday night (local time) the Parliament approved the ‘National Vaccination Campaign against Covid-19′ amendment meant to urge citizens to vaccinate against Covid-19.
In agreement with political parties, the Church as well as social organisations and scientific bodies, the Ministry’s campaign is targeted towards dissolving any doubts or resistance regarding inoculations.
At the same time, the country is going through lockdown 2.0 which has been extended into January 2021 due to Covid-19 cases still being high in numbers. To date, Greece has registered more than 121,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 3,370 deaths.
Intensive care units are at 83 per cent of their capacity nationwide, with Thessaloniki being at 91 per cent capacity. Government spokesman Stelios Petsas, reduced the 9pm to 5am curfew by one hour yesterday, for the festive period. However, authorities will not be flexing the curfew for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Greeks won’t have it as hard as Melburnians, even at the toughest of the country’s lockdown, as bookshops and hairdressers will be allowed to open next Monday but retail stores, entertainment venues, restaurants, bars and cafes will remain shut throughout the Christmas period.
Online orders have seen a huge spike during lockdown, too, causing a strain on delivery and postal services. Greece is now implementing a new, clickaway’ system that will allow customers to pick up their orders in a contactless manner, outside of the physical stores.
Churches, are to open only on Christmas Day and Epiphany on 6 January, with limits on the number of people allowed inside according to church size.
Finally, authorities confirmed the reduction of compulsory quarantine for travellers arriving in Greece from 18 December on. The quarantine period will be reduced from 10, to three days.