ATHENS – Everything’s still up in the air for now but Greece’s ruling New Democracy is said to be looking at a plan to gradually ease up on a lockdown aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 to get the country slowly returning to normal on May 10.
That would be some six weeks after the shutdown of non-essential businesses was imposed on March 23 and worked to cut down the number of cases and fatalities compared to other countries.
But with thousands of violations of stay at home orders that limit people to errands such as supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, and hospitals and worry there could be mass flouting during the Easter period the government isn’t making commitments yet.
Instead, said Kathimerini, the plan to ease up restrictions will come in phases if the number of cases falls off and people adhere to the conditions.
It is being driven by the government’s spokesman on the response, infectious diseases expert and university professor Dr. Dimitris Tsiodras who has emerged as a believable analyst credited with saving lives.
There was also caution that even if the lifting begins on May 10 it could take weeks or months before life was back to normal, indicating the critical summer tourism season is shot as world travel is still limited and people make international plans months early.
The plan, the paper said, would likely still keep the toughest restrictions on the elderly, the most vulnerable group, from moving around outside their homes, including a prohibition against intermingling with their family, children or grandchildren.
The bans on large social gatherings, including the operation of businesses such as bars and cafes, will remain in place during the early phase and the lifting of movement restrictions will initially concern cities.
The travel restriction will be lifted after mid-June or early July, so that there will be a gradual return to normal on the tourism front as well although that is likely too late especially with people fearing international trips this year.
The reopening of commercial stores, restaurants, bars, and other businesses would be slow and phased in as well, as would malls, cafes, restaurants, and nightclubs, which would happen later.
When commercial stores are reopened it would be under the condition to limit how many shoppers are allowed in the store and for them to try to keep social distancing of 1.5 meters (4.92 feet) apart without any details on how that could be enforced.
Read more at thenationalherald.com
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Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: matti
