ATHENS — Free travel between prefectures, a shorter curfew and an end to the system obliging people leaving their homes to send messages to number 13033 will go into effect on Friday (May 14), a day before Greece officially opens to tourism from abroad, the government said on Wednesday.

Minister to the Prime Minister's Office Aris Skertsos, responsible for government coordination, said in a regular live briefing that the combination of vaccinations, self-tests, and an improved National Health System allowed the country to relax the restrictions.

Briefly, the measures as of May 14 (Friday) are as follows:

– Daily curfew will start at 00:30 instead of 23:00 daily

– All museums will open (archaeological sites have already opened)

– SMS or text messages to 13033 (leaving home for one of 6 reasons) and 13032 (for shopping) are abolished; the systems of click-away (pickup of e-orders) and click-inside (shopping appointments) are abolished

– Travel between prefectures is no longer restricted

In addition, as already announced earlier in the week, kindergartens to reopen May 17, summer film theaters on May 21, and open performance venues on May 28.

Outdoor events, bars and receptions are expected to open in June, with a restriction of up to 100 people (including weddings and baptisms).

A ban on music will be upheld in all the venues, Skertsos said, for fear of infection spread through droplets.

As for the country's reopening to tourists on May 15, the minister said that the EU's Green Pass, based on a proposal by the Greek prime minister, will go in effect for EU citizens as of June 1. The Green Pass will be incorporated in the PLF form, while tests at Greek borders will continue on incoming travellers, based on the EVA algorithm system for random checks.

Greece plans to introduce a domestic variation of the Green Pass as of May 14, for the Greek islands, except for Lefkada, Evia and Salamina. Greeks travelling to islands must be able to provide either proof of vaccination or proof of no infection, through self-tests or other tests, he noted.