[ad_1]
This year’s holidays will be completely different at Christmas, but also at New Years, due to the mandatory restrictions brought by the coronavirus pandemic.
In the last hours, both government spokesman Stelios Petsas and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have outlined what the festivities will look like this year, although the final announcements for the opening of other stores in the coming days will be made on Friday.
Christmas and New Year’s Eve at home, with a maximum of 9 people
Kyriakos Mitsotakis in his interview with Alpha yesterday stated that we will have Christmas in our homes, with a maximum of 9 people. “I appeal again to everyone and everyone, to avoid mainly house-to-house movements. At Christmas, with our family, with one more family, maximum 9 people. These are the rules, we must follow them to protect ourselves and the people we love, ”said Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
County-to-county travel ban to continue: exceptions
As Stelios Petsas clarified today, speaking with ANT1, traveling to other regions during the holidays will not be allowed, especially for those who have holidays. Employees from other districts and students will be excluded from the rule, as, according to the government spokesperson, there will be a provision for family reunification.
We can move to stores in other municipalities
Final announcements on what will open and when will be made on Friday. It is being studied and it is possible, according to the information, to open hairdressers, toy stores, gifts, florists, bookstores and it is considering whether to open the rest of the retail trade.
“All the scenarios for the retail trade are on the table. This week we will make our decisions, in combination with the evolution of the pandemic,” Development Minister Adonis Georgiadis told SKAI 100.3. The minister said that the first decisions will affect hairdressers , florists, bookstores and toy stores.
He stressed that “we are at a point where we have to find the golden section: open with a relatively reasonable risk, and on the other hand not destroy businesses.”
However, overall, retail openness remains a mystery. Mr. Petsas said that with the holidays approaching, store openings may not be as gradual. However, in any case, the government is waiting for suggestions from experts. It should be noted that some infectious disease specialists do not agree with the opening of retail, as they fear overcrowding.
Stelios Petsas, however, said today that purchases will be allowed in different municipalities. It is observed that since Monday 110 seasonal stores have been opened throughout the country.
The SMS will continue
At the same time, the government spokesman stressed that SMS will remain valid and after the liberalization of retail trade.
If the retail store opens, the night traffic hours will change
“If the retail trade opens, of course, it will be necessary to adapt to the night traffic schedule.” First, because the hours can be extended, so that there is no overcrowding, second, there must be time for them to return to their homes “, said today Stelios Petsas, about the prohibition of night traffic. In any case, it is an extension that will apply during the holidays, when the market will be open which apparently will be from December 14 to January 7.
Stelios Petsas left open the possibility of a special provision for a traffic ban on the eve and on Christmas and New Years. “We will see it as we get closer, we will see it in the next few days,” Petsas said.
What will definitely be closed
The restaurant (cafes and restaurants) will definitely be closed during the Christmas season, at least until January 7. The data will then be reviewed and it will be decided whether the “lock” will be removed under strict conditions. “We are concerned because there is such a slow decline in viral load,” said Mr. Petsas, clarifying that there will be time to prepare for the market opening.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis in his interview yesterday in terms of entertainment it was left open until Easter. Asked by Antonis Schroeter if it is possible to get to Easter and discos, for example, or discos, or some form of entertainment in restaurants has not worked until then, Kyriakos Mitsotakis replied: “It is possible that (…). But let’s be Honest: all the tracking showed us that especially in the evening entertainment, when people relax, yell, come closer, there is a big problem of transmission of the virus. The same does not happen in this area of restaurants, so I separate the operation from the restaurants to the entertainment function. But if you ask me with my hand on my heart, if I think the nightlife will work until we get to a point where we have mass population immunity, I’ll tell you that most likely it won’t work. “
What will happen to the churches?
In the late afternoon of Tuesday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had a telephone conversation with Archbishop Ieronymos. At the center of the discussion was the possibility of opening the churches during the holidays. Relevant announcements will be made at the end of the week.
“You cannot open the retail trade and the churches cannot be closed. These are the ones that will be discussed in the next 2-3 days, to be able to make decisions,” Stelios Petsas said in the morning.
Schools: When does e-learning end at Christmas?
Courses normally continue, through distance education, for schools that will remain closed for lifelong learning.
Yesterday, government spokesman Stelios Petsas announced the extension of the shutdown until January 7. This is a decision that includes schools, as the stage to open after the Lights prevailed.
RELEVANT ARTICLES
Mitsotakis: mass vaccination will end the pandemic and economic crisis
Asked about the decision, the professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and member of the Expert Committee, Vana Papaevangelou, stated that “we suggest to postpone the opening of schools for two reasons. The most important criterion since the start of the pandemic is the image in the ICU and the image in the ICU has not improved. Therefore, any mobility in and out of schools could create problems. The benefit of opening schools was also questioned, since there were 7 days left until the Christmas holidays ”.
In a televised interview yesterday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his belief that students will return to classes on January 7 and no further extensions will be needed as there will be a reduction in cases.
The only question that has now been resolved is to clarify when the e-learning for schools, that is, the classes, will end at Christmas. In information issued by the Ministry of Education, it initially states that “the suspension of the live operation of the schools extends until January 7, 2021” and points out that the school units special education and training continue operate normally until December 23, 2020.
“Long distance education (distance education) continues in our schools since Kindergarten until High school until December 23, 2020 “, Take a final note from the Ministry of Education.
Bedding: there is also a high risk of dispersion in hairdressers.
Athena Linou, Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Athens School of Medicine, expressed concern about the risk of the coronavirus spreading in beauty salons. “I think there is a high risk of dispersion in hairdressers as well, because we are in very close contact, it is impossible to maintain the distance of two meters,” he told Mega.
A lot of attention is needed, says Ms Linou, “and not until the vaccine arrives, but until the majority are vaccinated.” And when we get the vaccine, the risk remains. In other countries vaccination is launched, it will be done outdoors. In Greece, it could also be done at tolls, with the vaccinated person in their car, “added Ms. Linou, explaining:” You can see some distances in shops. “It would be much safer to open small businesses in the neighborhoods, so that there are not too many people in one place,” he added.
Linou: With the same 9 people we will celebrate, every day
“Things are not easy, they are difficult at the moment, we have few opportunities to see what is happening in southern Greece, because very few tests have been done in recent days. While we wait for the vaccine, we must be very careful not to let the virus get near and enter our homes. For the holidays, try to create a happy, family atmosphere, without having a lot of contact with people, ”said Ms. Linou.
Commenting on why the number of people who can meet varies from country to country, Linou emphasized: “Each country has a different number. I think elections are made in a practical way, so it is two families. What is not It was heard is that these 9 people should be the same people that we will celebrate every day. They have to be the same, so that we do not come into contact with many people, because that increases the chances of getting sick “.
[ad_2]
