ATHENS – While attention was focused on the highly-contagious Omicron Variant spreading the Coronavirus like wildfire across Greece, the more deadly Delta Variant sent deaths rising and is bringing measures.

In another bid to try to slow the pandemic that will be two years old in March, the New Democracy government said restaurants and bars will stay have to close at midnight until the end of January, among other restrictions staying.

The decision came after recommendations from the government’s advisory panel of doctors and scientists reviewed epidemiological data to try to find out why deaths were jumping so hard in overwhelmed hospitals.

The move was made too, said Kathimerini, because the health system is being besieged by so many cases that broke records before falling back – but with deaths soaring at the same time, making the pandemic worse.

Delta and Omicron have combined to bring continued high numbers of cases and deaths as Prime Minsiter Kyriakos Mitsotakis pulled back from a pledge to consider mandatory vaccinations for all if the health crisis didn’t begin to abate.

The government also wanted an extension of the measures because January was seen a “lost cause” due to the onslaught of the Omicron variant the paper said while Mitsotakis is also trying to speed an economic recovery.

Health Minister Thanos Plevris said that, “Thre is a general understanding among all scientists” that around 20-25 days of tighter measures was needed although it’s uncertain whether they will continue into February, during carnival season.