ATHENS – While a second lockdown to try to stop the spread of COVID-19 was aimed at keeping public hospitals from being overwhelmed, plans to lift it Dec. 1 were designed to let people get out to shop for Christmas, New Democracy government spokesman Stelios Petsas said.

He told a news conference that the restrictions on people's movements for three weeks except for permissible missions such as going to supermarkets, pharmacies, doctors and other essential business was  necessary “to avert a worse crisis.”

The objective also was, he added, “To save lives and prevent the health system from becoming oversaturated,” he said and create conditions for a “more normal Christmas holiday season” for businesses as well as consumers.

Greek businesses, after being closed up to 10 weeks during a first lockdown that began in March, also now were shut down for another three weeks at least, although there are worries it could be extended if the pandemic doesn't lessen.