ATHENS — Tightened lockdown restrictions for the municipalities of Aspropyrgos, Elefsina and Mandra-Idilia, all in west Attica, were announced by Deputy Minister for Civil Protection & Crisis Management Nikos Hardalias at a special live briefing on Thursday after high coronavirus infection rates in the area.

The additional safety restrictions will come into effect at 06:00 on Friday (Dec. 18), and will remain in effect for seven days, said the minister.

Curfew in these areas will begin at 18:00 (3 hours earlier than usual in other Greek regions) until 05:00 the following morning. Employees who need to go to work will need special permits issued by their employers.

The entire retail sector will be shut down in those areas, including open-air markets (laikes). Bookshops, hairdressers and barbers, nail and beauty salons, which are open with restrictions everywhere else, will also be closed. In addition, customers will not be allowed to pick up online orders (click-away method) over the next week.

Churches and all worship places will be shut and all services banned except for funerals, which will be limited to 10 attendees.

Citizens in these municipalities will be rapid-tested en masse by the National Public Health Organization's (EODY) medical staff, while the premises of local companies will be inspected by the National Public Health Sercive, Civil Protection and the Army, stressed Hardalias. Workers at local nursing homes will be rapid-tested every 5 days.

Finally, face masks wil be distributed to everyone in these areas, free of charge.

Speaking from Thessaloniki, where he is assessing the regional epidemiological burden with the help of local health authorities, the minister stressed that the viral burden in some areas is not subsiding despite currently standing measures.

Hardalias urged west Attica residents for diligently observe all health safety restrictions, "without excuses or any pretext".