ATHENS – After reopening businesses – with conditions – that had been closed during a second quasi-lockdown aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19, Greece’s New Democracy government has no plans for now to lift a nighttime curfew.

That runs from 9 at night to 5 in the morning, with individual violators facing fines of 500 euros ($605.51) and businesses up to 10,000 euros ($12,110.15) and being closed temporarily.

Speaking on SKAI radio, Athens University microbiology professor Alkiviadis Vatopoulos, who sits on the committee advising the Greek government on its handling of the pandemic, said the curfew helps “reduce unnecessary crowding.”

He said he was in favor of allowing outdoor activities such as fishing and hunting, but expressed reservations about lifting a ban on traveling between prefectures that Development Minister Adonis Georgiadis is mulling to help ski resorts do business.

Speaking about bars and restaurants, he said authorities want to assess the epidemiological impact of retail activity before making a decision as they are places where the virus can spread, although many are on the brink of going under.