The Greek government extended Thursday until May 4 the general confinement imposed for a month to stem the epidemic of new coronavirus, with the only easing planned a partial reopening of the courts on Monday.
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Due to an aging population and a health system weakened by a decade of financial crisis, Greece imposed restrictions sooner than its European partners and is less affected by the pandemic: 121 deaths and 2,400 cases so far have been officially registered. "The deconfinement will be done in several successive phases during the months of May and June," said government spokesman Stelios Petsas on Thursday, stressing that "the impact on the health system will be evaluated week by week". "The restrictive measures, which were originally supposed to end on April 27, will be extended until May 4," he said during his press briefing.
Authorities welcome compliance with containment measures
From Monday, however, the land registry offices will reopen and the court registers will operate again, the spokesman announced earlier this week.
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Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to announce over the next week the various steps to exit the containment, imposed on March 23 and which put the economic life of the country to a halt. Since that date, shops, archaeological sites, museums, hotels, entertainment centers, restaurants and cafes have been closed. Only supermarkets and pharmacies are open. The grounds authorizing a trip are limited and any person must have a certificate justifying it. Significant fines are imposed for violation of the restrictions.
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The authorities have repeatedly praised the majority of citizens for respecting the measures, despite the Orthodox Easter celebrations on April 19, traditionally marked by an exodus of the urban population towards the countryside, church gatherings and meetings family. This year, Easter was only celebrated on the balconies of apartment buildings in cities and masses were held behind closed doors.