Greece: Restrictions imposed on Lesvos island through September 1 /update 31

Event

Authorities announced that as of Monday, August 24, through September 1, local restrictions are to be implemented on the island of Lesvos in efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). As of 06:00 (local time) on Monday, all food/catering sector-related shops, services, and facilities are to cease operations from 00:00 until 07:00 the following day. Furthermore, a maximum of 50 people will be allowed at social events at any one time, except places where special rules apply, such as restaurants and theaters. 

In Mykonos and Halkidiki as of August 21 through until August 31, a ban on gatherings of more than nine people either indoors or outdoors is in place. Furthermore, there is a limit of four people per table in any restaurant, except for families where the limit is six. 

Until August 31, a ban on restaurants and entertainment venues operating between the hours of 00:00 and 07:00 is in place throughout Attica, which includes Athens, and in Crete, East Macedonia and Thrace. 

As of July 31, face masks are compulsory in all indoor public spaces as well as outdoor spaces where proper social distancing cannot be carried out. Face masks were already mandatory on public transport and in supermarkets, and since July 28 in offices, retail shops, bakeries, food stores, and banks also.

As of August 24, there have been 8819 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, and 242 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures: