ATHENS — "The epidemiological burden in Greece remains at high levels and the next period will be extremely crucial for the evolution of the pandemic," government spokesperson Yiannis Economou said on Monday during a press briefing.

"Experts warn of the risk of an increase in Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations, stressing that the most effective weapon against the pandemic is vaccination and recommending that protection measures be scrupulously observed, and the taking of self-diagnostic tests, especially for those returning from vacation," he said.

He explained: "For this purpose, from today until next Monday, two self-tests are available free of charge from pharmacies for unvaccinated public- and private-sector employees, as well as our unvaccinated fellow citizens aged 5-30."

At the same time, the government is making use of every fruitful proposal, every fruitful idea in order to convince and encourage us to facilitate our unvaccinated fellow citizens. In other words, to take advantage of the privilege of vaccination that science has given us."