ATHENS – Focusing on the economy while the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened in Greece ironically is jeopardizing the fight on both fronts and could slow a comeback as businesses are losing customers because of tougher measures aimed at the unvaccinated.

New Democracy government officials were said to be thinking about a backup plan if the situation gets worse, said Kathimerini but that was denied as the concentration is on trying to accelerate the economy.

The first days of restrictions on the unvaccinated also showed sharp drop-offs in entertainment and food venues, people shying away again as worry rose too about being exposed to the deadly virus in public places.

While the government said there is no Plan B, the paper said what had been contemplated was to limit or postpone some surgeries to make more beds available for COVID patients, which had been done before.

Also, to conscript private doctors who have been reluctant to join the battle against the pandemic and had to be forced previously when the Coronavirus was raging through the country during lockdowns.

There would also reportedly be even more restrictions on restaurants, bars and taverns who appealed to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to go easy on them and withdraw the measures against the unvaccinated.

The government doesn’t want to stifle the economy and has focused on that, Mitsotakis setting aside concerns of his panel of health advisors to whom he usually had previously listened.