Greek health authorities have recorded 605 new coronavirus cases in a day, and 24 deaths, until midday Saturday while 292 patients are on ventilators in ICUs.

In total, Greece has had 151,646 confirmed infections and 5,622 fatalities since the beginning of the pandemic.

The last week cases have stabilised at around 500-600 a day, allowing authorities to discuss the gradual easing of the lockdown.

According to the Government Gazette, current restrictions will apply until 1 February as announced by Deputy Minister for Civil Protection & Crisis Management Nikos Hardalias. This includes:

  • The overnight curfew (21:00-05:00), the SMS outing permits and the obligatory wearing of face masks at all indoor and outdoor public spaces
  • The maximum number of passengers in taxis now goes up to 2 (besides the driver)
  • Game hunting and fishing will be prohibited for another week, except in the regions of Evros, Rodopi and Xanthi, where the hunting of wild boar will be allowed in the context of preventing the spread of African swine fever, he noted
  • Local branches of the Greek Organization of Football Prognostics S.A. (OPAP) will reopen on 1 February
  • Restrictions at the regions of Argolis, the community of Anthili in Lamieon and Paleokastro at the Sitia-Lasithi municipalities in Crete will be lifted on Monday
  • Extra measures, will apply in a Roma community in the Distio municipality,in Evia
  • Measures in Aspropyrgos and Acharnes municipalities in Attica will intensify
  • Measures in Kozani, Volos, Lesvos, Sparta, Eordea and Boeotia will also be kept in effect until 1 February

While cases are not exceeding those numbers, experts warned against another spike following the reopening of retail stores which was met with huge queues of people gathering outside shops holding sales.

In the meantime, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis appeared hopeful, saying that “The vaccination process is proceeding exactly as we have planned…. and we will continue with this process and at this speed”.

He explained that Greece is ready to administer even more jabs but it is limited by the agreements it has made.

“I have said many times that we are ready to give many more vaccines, but the number of vaccines – as you know – is determined by the restrictions set by the companies and by the agreements we have signed at European level,” he said.