ATHENS – As many small and medium sized enterprises in Greece are running out of time to save themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic, a scheme allowing customers to order online and pick up stores seems set to resume.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has not ruled out the gradual reopening of retail beginning Jan. 18 as a second lockdown trying to slow the spread of the Coronavirus that began Nov. 7 is still on otherwise.

Speaking to Antenna TV, he suggested he’s leaning toward allowing the partial reopening scheme in a bid to prop up a faltering economy and help businesses that have been closed half of the previous 10 months.

He said the call would be based on recommendations from his team of doctors and scientifics who have been providing advice since the pandemic began early in 2020, after earlier admitting he waited too long to bring a second shutdown.

He dismissed criticism from the major opposition SYRIZA his New Democracy administration failed to properly handle a second wave of COVID-19 that surged during a more lenient lockdown and the Church allowed to violate health protocols to celebrate Epiphany Day.