[ad_1]
Europe’s governments, which account for a quarter of all global infections and deaths from the coronavirus pandemic, are fighting to protect the health of citizens while at the same time opening up the economy with careful steps.
In fact, the pressures become even more intense just a month before Christmas, the time when everyone needs to visit relatives and relax. The main axis is the temporary relaxation of the restrictive measures that are in force today so that the holidays are as calm as possible.
This week and next, most governments will present their next steps for the pandemic, with basic guidance given by all limited family reunion leaders.
In Greece, although the initial plan was to lift the blockade on November 30, the second wave of the coronavirus led the government to change its plan, taking steps to relax based on epidemiological data.
“Our plans from now on will not refer so much to dates as to specific data, which will judge our next steps,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during the teleconference with the governors of the country’s seven health districts.
Final decisions are expected to be made in the next 24 hours, with announcements being postponed – with the data so far – for next week, when an indicative plan for the next period will be presented, which even includes the Christmas period. 
However, according to official statements, the government is focusing, except for the unexpected shocking, first on the opening of schools, then on the retail trade and on the third and final stage of catering. One plan, that is, three steps in the French standards.
According to Emanuel Macron, the country will begin to ease the lockdown starting next Saturday, with a process that will be carried out in three stages, in order to avoid a new outbreak of the new coronavirus epidemic. However, as happened with the imposition of the blockade, there will be some differences, since it is not possible to apply, taking into account epidemiological models, the measures in Greece with the same precision.
Speech to the French. https://t.co/KEZgRXbpZb
– Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 24, 2020
Reopening of “unnecessary” stores
In light of mounting pressure on financial and mental health effects due to the extensive lockdown, the French president appears to have been in favor of easing restrictions from the start, but with special arrangements for trading and running the restaurant.
Thus, the first relaxation measure of the French government includes the reopening, on November 28, of stores that sell unnecessary items, which closed a month ago.
At the same time, trips for hiking and sports will be allowed within a radius of 20 km from the residence and for three hours, while extracurricular activities will be allowed in the open air. It is noted that in France schools remained open during the second wave of the coronavirus. 
In our country, the most probable date for the opening of the stores is December 14, while the government maintains that the reopening of the market will be done gradually and with great care in compliance with health regulations.
The Minister of Development, Adonis Georgiadis, however, left open in recent days the possibility of opening certain sectors of the economy, such as seasonal items and toy stores, which, he said, have been particularly affected.
In this context, he stressed that one of the measures that will be implemented will be purchases in the form of click away, that is, placing the consumer’s order in the store, being prepared and being picked up by appointment at a specific time. Today, in fact, Adonis Georgiadis stated that the plan is to open the stores in stages.
Places of worship open
Another measure taken by France, in the context of the relaxation of the confinement, is the “opening” of places of worship -also starting next Saturday- with a limit of 30 people.
This issue is expected to be of special concern to the authorities of our country, hence the meeting ten days ago between the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, with Archbishop Ieronymos.
According to government sources, a common component of the meeting was “the urgent need for all of us, with all our strength, to contribute to the implementation of the measures, faithfully and strictly observing sanitary regulations, as has been the case since the beginning of the pandemic. “. optimism that adherence to health standards and the consequent improvement in epidemiological data will allow us to spend Christmas in a different environment.
Regarding the operation of the churches during the Christmas period, Mr. Mitsotakis had said that “it is up to us to observe the measures and make Christmas with our churches open”. 
The lock is removed but with strict restrictions
If the health situation in France continues to improve, the quarantine will be lifted on December 15 and will be replaced by a national curfew from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., with the exception of December 24-31, when the traffic it will be free, Macron added during a televised speech. However, meetings will be prohibited during this period.
Starting on December 15, “therefore, we will be able to move again without permission, and between regions, and spend Christmas with the family,” but limiting “unnecessary travel,” Macron said. Certainly – as he said – it will not be a Christmas like any other, urging the French to continue to be careful and apply social distances, wearing masks and washing their hands thoroughly.
In fact, on this date in France the reopening of cultural spaces, such as museums, theaters and cinemas, is expected, complying with very strict sanitary regulations.
In our country, the government representative, Stelios Petsas, however, described the possibility of allowing movement from prefecture to prefecture as difficult, since the epidemiological burden is not harmonized from region to region. 
Regarding movements, when asked about the possibility of changing the six modes of movement and any restrictions on the allowed number of SMS, he left open the possibility of their abolition, as well as the prohibition of traffic for a few hours, without being still on the horizon more specific plan.
“When we return to normal, things will not be as before. Restrictions such as SMS, which are a “brake” in the mood of mobility, or traffic bans after a certain time are considered. “All of this is on the table,” he said.
For her part, the EKPA professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and member of the Expert Committee, Vana Papaevangelou, when asked about the plan that exists during the holidays, urged citizens to choose a social bubble, a small stable group of family and friends and not associate with anyone else.
“Meeting in houses in the middle of a confinement jeopardizes our effort. Each of us should do our personal confinement in our daily life.” Everyone should choose their ‘bubble’, “he characteristically stated and explained:” In other words You should choose a small but stable group of close family and friends with whom you will associate. ” 
The focus ‘puzzle’
The industry hardest hit by the pandemic, hospitality, which is a “headache” for governments and the scientific community, is expected to open in France, as in most countries, last.
Restaurants, cafes and bars will remain closed until January 20 to ensure that the country does not face a third wave of the pandemic.
In Greece, however, the restaurant opening is becoming a puzzle, with the latest scenarios placing the reopening of restaurants and cafes around December 21. The government emphasizes that … catering means only restaurants and cafes and those with specific opening hours. The crowded bars and clubs, which contributed greatly to the explosion of the second wave, will remain closed.
Yesterday, Stelios Petsas pointed out that “there is a plan for the restaurant to open before Christmas,” but clarified that there will definitely be no possibility of evening entertainment. However, the data changes on a daily basis based on epidemiological data, while there is also the scenario that says the restaurant will hardly open during the holidays.
However, the question remains for both professionals and consumers, under what conditions will the restaurants open, what will be their opening hours, depending on the restrictions that will be applied to travel, as well as the completeness with which they will operate. .
at google news and be the first to know all the news
[ad_2]
