Additional measures to fight the spread of the coronavirus came into effect at 6am on Friday, and will remain in place until midnight December 31.
The Council of Ministers decided on Wednesday the extension of the measures already in place, which were due to last until Sunday, with additional measures. These mean the operation of malls and catering establishments is suspended, while church services are to take place without attendees.
Large department and other stores over 500m² (excluding supermarkets) will operate in compliance with the measure of 1 person per 10m² and with a ceiling on the number of customers.
While the operation of catering establishments – restaurants, taverns, cafés, pubs, snack bars and bars, cafeterias and catering establishments – is suspended with the exception of delivery and take away services. After 9pm only home delivery is permitted.
Church services and other forms of religious worship in religious sites must be performed without the presence of a congregation. Weddings, christenings and funerals are permitted with a maximum of 10 persons attending.
As of Monday, all lessons in lyceums will go online. At the same time, in addition to the suspension of sports and social activities for people under 18, which is still in force, the operation of tutoring institutes is suspended.
Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou has said that “based on our planning” these measures “will remain in place until midnight on 31 December. Until then, the situation will be re-evaluated in order to review the measures, provided that the epidemiological picture allows it.”