ATHENS — Shopkeepers who do not have an e-shop can use an online government platform to let their customers know when to pick up their orders, said Secretary General for Trade and Consumer Protection Panagiotis Stamboulidis in an interview with OpenTV on Saturday.

Therefore, shops without an e-shop can use the Development & Investments Ministry's online platform https://e-katanalotis.gov.gr/ to send their customers SMS messages, free-of-charge, to update them on their orders so they can pick them up in person.

This clarification by Stamboulidis comes after the government on Friday extended the suspension of non-essential retail throughout the country to January 7, but with an exception from Sunday, December 13 until Thursday, January 7, 2021, when customers will be permitted to go to shops to pick up goods they ordered online (click-away); this was decided as courier services are overwhelmed by increased e-orders.

Meanwhile the government on Friday also announced that:

– Hairdressers are permitted to open from Monday, December 14 throughout the country, with the option of working an extended timetable from 7:00 in the morning until 21:00 in the evening. They must operate exclusively by appointment and under strict health protocols.

– The opening of bookstores from Monday, December 14, throughout the country, also with the option of working extended hours, and with a maximum of four customers in stores up to 100 sq.m. or one customer per 15 sq.m. for stores over 100 sq.m.