ATHENS — A nightclub on Mykonos,  an island notorious for wild nightlife and clubs evading taxes, was closed for 60 days and owner fined 20,000 euros ($22,738) for violating COVID-19 Coronavirus health protocols by allowing hundreds of people at a bar.

Inspectors brought the hammer down on Alemagou’ a well-known beach bar on Ftelia Beach, keeping it shut until August and the fine, said SKAI TV, indicating the New Democracy government will be tough over the virus measures if not tax cheating.

The Secretary General for Trade and Consumer Protection, Panagiotis Stampoulidis told SKAI the pictures of mobs crowding the bar, violating social distancing requirements, was an “unacceptable image” after Greece was praised for an early lockdown that held down the number of cases and deaths from the virus.

“The goal is to limit Covid-19 … there is a network of institutional sanctions that are very strict. It is a pity for both the employees and themselves to be locked out because they did not ensure the observance of the measures,” he said.

“We have opened on terms, with specific commitments. They are very simple rules. The beach bars should not open the bar and the crowd should be prevented, no parties should be created. For each area of space, there is a ratio of square meters per customer … We want everyone to understand that these rules will be enforced.”

A heavy fine was also imposed on another business in Hora, Mykonos’ heavily-trafficked center, for overcrowding although it's essentially impossible on narrow lanes between stores and restaurants to stay at least the required 1.5 meters (4.92 feet) apart.