CORFU — Deputy Civil Defense Minister for Crisis Management Nikos Hardalias paid a visit on Saturday to the new mega-vaccination center which will open in the main town of Corfu island on Monday (May 31).

The center will be able to accomodate 10 separate vaccination lines as part of the country's "Blue Freedom" inoculation plan, particularly after the country reopened for the summer tourist season. It is located at the National Sports Center of Corfu, and is added to a list of another six such megacenters in Greece – in Maroussi ('Promitheas'), Peristeri, Elliniko, Thessaloniki, Patras and Rhodes. The distribution of vaccines and the national coordination plan is a result of collaboration among the Civil Defense and Health Ministries with the Armed Forces.

Hardalias said Corfu residents will receive the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. "I would like to remind you that Corfu's vaccination rate, for first or second dose, is 23 percent, below the national average" of 33.5 pct, the minister said, and called on the islanders to embrace the effort. "It is important to understand that the image we project abroad is that of a safe island and a safe country," he added.

As of Monday also, he said, a new epidemiologial map of Greece will be released so that residents of a region can check the level of infections. He reiterated the importance of not relaxing basic health measures such as social distancing and wearing masks.

Hardalias was scheduled to attend an extensive meeting later in the day involving Attica Region and its readiness to manage fires, particularly during their summer high season.