In the coming hours, government announcements of new countermeasures against the pandemic

Of Dimitris Gatsiou

At the morning meeting at the Maximos Palace, under Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the final decisions of the government regarding the forward wave of measures for the festive period will be taken on the developments on the front of the pandemic virus and the new “Omicron” strain.

It was preceded by the “marathon” meeting of the committee of experts of the Ministry of Health, at the end of which the new suggestions of the scientists to the Maximos Palace emerged, with the aim of… to have walls of the country against the mutation, which keeps the European capitals in… red alarm.

“In a phenomenon that is dynamic and evolving daily, daily monitoring and adjustment of options is required,” executives note, waiting for the announcements that will come to the fore in the coming hours.

At present, information on the decisions to be taken during this period of intense social mobility is minimal. Until late last night, associates of the prime minister kept their papers closed, while after the discussions that are currently underway, the announcements will be made by the Minister of Health, Thanos Plevris and the government representative, Giannis Oikonomou.

What can be said, however, is that the interventions proposed by the experts do not have an… financial footprint, which means that they can be more easily implemented.

As for the “package” proposed by the Commission after the festive period, the framework was essentially described by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, during the cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Experts suggest a first wave of measures, which will be implemented immediately. In particular, they suggest:

– Postpone all open Christmas events

– The use of the mask is mandatory both indoors and outdoors, without asterisks. At the same time, there is a suggestion in places with intense coloration, such as supermarkets and public transport, that the high protection mask is mandatory or alternatively the double mask.

– All travelers from abroad to Greece to undergo a rapid test on the 2nd and 4th day, with the travel instruction that already applies to include the mandatory test before entering our country.

As for the post-Christmas and New Year period, according to sources within the Committee of Experts, another framework of interventions will be discussed next week. What will this include? The operation of stadiums without spectators, the extension of telework and the imposition of specific opening hours for restaurants and entertainment stores.