Covid-19: Greece Divided into Red and Yellow Risk Zones, Measures Announced
Greek authorities are re-activating the country’s color-coded risk-assessment map, giving areas a coronavirus (Covid-19) risk rating of yellow or red.
The announcement was made during the Covid-19 Friday media briefing by Greek Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias.
The decision to once again divide the country into color-coded risk zones was made by the givernment following the recent rise in Covid-19 cases is certain areas of the country, with Athens (Attica) and Piraeus being at the top of the list with a total of 2,597 active cases (at the time of the briefing).
As before, the Covid-19 map shows the degree of risk in regions (and municipalities), indicated by two color-coded levels that are based on the epidemiological burden of each area:
Level A – Monitoring – Color: YELLOW
Level B – High-risk – Color: RED, which includes the areas where stricter lockdown measures have been imposed.
The map enables citizens to track the spread of the coronavirus in the country and keep up to date with health and safety measures in areas.
The color-coded risk-assessment map will be in force from January 30.
During the briefing, Hardalias announced which areas in Greece will remain in red status (below) until February 8 (when further announcements will be made). Citizens in red areas must follow emergency lockdown measures, including a stricter curfew banning movement from 6pm until 5am.
Common measures
Greek Minister of Development and Investment Adonis Georgiadis and Greek Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias. Photo source: Ministry of Development and Investment
The following common measures are in force for citizens in areas of both levels:
– Mask wearing in all indoor and outdoor public spaces.
– A 24-hour restriction on movement is enforced with exceptions. Outside movement is allowed only for six specific reasons and by sending an SMS to the five-digit mobile phone service 13033.
– Private businesses and public services should operate with the minimum amount of staff possible (either by rotation and through teleworking) both in the public and private sectors.
– Distance learning in higher education institutions (universities).
– Kindergartens, primary schools and all special education schools of all levels are open.
– Supreme courts and special courts are in operation.
– Matches of Super League 1 & 2 and Basketball League will take place as scheduled.
It is reminded that movement between Greek prefectures (domestic travel) continues to be banned (except for health and work reasons).
Covid-19 measures according to risk level
‘Yellow’ areas
Greece’s Level A (yellow) areas are: Etoloakarnania, Andros, Argolida, Arkadia, Arta, Achaia, Viotia, Grevena, Drama, Evros, Evia, Evritania, Zakynthos, Ilia, Imathia, Heraklion (Crete), Thassos, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Thira (Santorini), Ithaki, Ikaria, Ioannina, Kavala, Kalymnos, Karditsa, Karpathos-Kasos, Kea-Kythnos, Corfu, Keflonia, Kilkis, Kozani, Corinth, Kos, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkada, Lemnos, Magnesia, Milos, Naxos, Attica islands, Xanthi, Paros, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethymno, Rodopi, Rhodes, Samos, Serres, Sporades islands, Syros, Tinos, Trikala, Fthiotida, Florina, Fokida, Halkidiki, Chania, Chios.
The following applies to the country’s ‘yellow’ areas:
– Night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am.
– Middle schools (gymnasium) and high schools (lyceum) will re-open.
– Churches and other places of worship are open with restrictions: only 25 people are allowed in churches at the same time and up to 50 people in Metropolitan.
– Shopping: Retail stores, hairdressers, barbershops, beauty salons, diet services, diet unit services with the exception of exercise, personal hygiene and body care services, vehicle inspection services (KTEO), OPAP betting shops (except OPAP play stores) will operate as previously under social distancing measures (1 person allowed per 25 sq.m.).
Consumers can shop only by sending an SMS (option 2) to 13033 or by having a handwritten movement certificate with them while shopping. All consumers must keep the SMS as proof of permission for movement and must show it to authorities upon request.
Movement to shop will last two hours, beginning from the time of sending (and approval) of the SMS for movement.
‘Red’ areas
Greece’s Level B (red) areas are: East Attica, Patra (Achaia), Municipalities of Thiva and Tanagra (Viotia), Halkida and Roma settlement in Kymi-Aliveri (Evia), North Sector of Athens, West Attica, West Sector of Athens, Thira (Santorini), Eordaia Municipality (Kozani), Municipality of Sparti (Lakonia), Central Sector of Athens, Lesvos, Mykonos, South Sector of Athens, Piraeus, Municipality of Neas Propantidas (Halkidiki).
The following applies to the country’s ‘red’ areas:
– Evening/night curfew from 6 pm to 5 am. (Attica is the only area of red status where the curfew is from 9pm to 5 am due to increased population.)
– Only middle schools (gymnasium) will re-open (high school students will continue their lessons via tele-education)
– Only 9 people are allowed to attend mass at churches and or services as other places of worship.
– Shopping is only allowed by the “click-away” method (consumers must make their orders online or by phone and can pick up their purchases outside of stores). Only clothing and footwear stores are allowed to have customers enter their premises through the new method of “click in a shop” (by appointments). Hairdressers, barbershops, beauty salons and bookstores operate but can service customers only by appointment.
Greece’s online risk-assessment map will be updated by authorities in cooperation with the country’s special committee of infectious disease specialists. Updates will take place at any period deemed required according to the epidemiological indicators of an area.
Greek health authorities on Friday announced 941 new coronavirus cases and 22 deaths. Since the start of the pandemic, the total number of cases in the country has reached 155,678. The Covid-19 death toll in Greece is 5,764.
ΠΗΓΗ GTP
