If Greece is within your news radar, chances are you might have read or heard of a new “lockdown” imposed on Mykonos.

While reported as such (by Greek media outlets) the tougher restrictions introduced have little to do with an exclusive set of permitted reasons to leave home.

Although stay at home orders are practically in effect during the late night hours.

The curfew is the key newest measure as of Saturday, in response to a sudden rise in coronavirus infections in the last few days, manifesting in multiple chain infections and clusters.

Except for work and serious health reasons, circulation is banned from 01:00 at night to 06:00 in the morning.

But there’s another change restricting partying as usual in the popular island that became the focus of global news agencies.

The ban on music in bars and restaurants is the central element in reports by international outlets including Reuters and Sky news.

Entertainment will be on mute from 6pm each night, a measure that angered Mykonos Mayor, Konstantinos Koukas.

“The state needs to review this unfair decision, so that the people of Mykonos and our visitors are not the only ones in Greece unable to be out at nighttime, so that Mykonos is not the only [Greek] island where music is missing,” Mr Koukas wrote in a lengthy social media post.


“If authorities don’t review these [measures], the only thing they will achieve is to give visitors a motive to move to another island. And ultimately, this by no means serves the purpose of public health protection.”

Under restrictions that apply throughout Greece, Mykonos is also subject to a ban of activities requiring payment or any kind of exchange in private, non-professional spaces and involving over 20 people.

People caught defying the order, risk fines ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 euros for the person providing the private space.

Mykonos’ curfew and music ban will be in place until Monday 26 July, when data on infections will be reevaluated.

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“We call on residents, visitors and professionals of our beautiful island to observe the measures faithfully, and on island authorities to activate immediately means of information and of ensuring their application, so that the spread of the virus is controlled and contained soon and Mykonos returns to normalcy,” Deputy Civil Protection Minister for Crisis Management Nikos Hardalias said.