ATHENS — As novel coronavirus cases continued to rise, Deputy Civil Protection and Crises Management Minister Nikos Hardalias, in the latest briefing on the progress of the pandemic, announced that current restrictions will be extended until October 12.

In the Attica Region, where accounts for almost half the daily cases, the following restrictions will apply:

– A ban on the operation of venues serving food and drinks from midnight to 5:00 in the morning.

– A maximum of nine people at gatherings in both open and indoor locations, except in areas where social distancing measures apply, such as in venues serving food and drinks.

– The suspension of open-air and indoor concerts

– Suspension of film screenings in indoor cinemas

– Suspension of all theatrical performances

– A maximum limit of 20 people at weddings, baptisms and funerals

– A maximum of six people at each table in venues serving food and drinks

– The suspension of the operation of all retail outlets from midnight until 5:00 in the morning the next day, including kiosks and mini-markets, tobacco shops, liquor stores, grocery stores, bakeries and confectioners. Exceptions include pharmacies, fuel stations, automated vending machines (except those selling alcoholic drinks), as well as take away, drive through and delivery from catering businesses, barring the sale of alcohol.

– Mandatory use of a mask in all indoor public and private work spaces, as well as all outdoor places where people congregate, such as plazas, bus stops, queues, demonstrations and political party events where the 1.5-metre rule cannot be observed.

– Temporary suspension of private businesses providing the following services: bars in a dance club, cabaret and night-club services, entertainment venues and cafes or bars offering live music, discoteque and concert halls.

– Vendors at street markets are required to use a non-surgical masks with only 50 pct of vendors of each category at the market each time, with a minimum distance between stalls of three metres and free space in between.

– Mandatory remote working for 40 pct of employees in the private and public sector when doing office jobs that can be done remotely.

– Staggered arrival and departure times for staff in the public sector, at 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00 in the morning, respectively.

– Flexibility in the arrival and departure of staff in the private sector in four waves, within two hours of the start and end of the working shift.

– Sweeping inspections and sanctions on employers and employees that fail to observe the individual protection measures in the work place, namely the use of masks.

– Extensive testing and inspections by National Organisation for Public Health (NOPH) teams in work spaces and gatherings in the areas of Attica that are worst hit and in public and private-sector services where this is judged necessary "for the smooth running of the state and the economy," such as schools, public transport and hospitals.

Authorities are also advising those over 65 to restrict themselves to only essential movements abroad for the next 14 days and take the necessary protection measures, while avoiding contact with others apart from the immediate family and the use of public transport.

Additionally for Attica, it has been decided that asymptomatic cases belonging to vulnerable segments of the population, such as migrants, should stay in quarantine hotels.

In the regional units of Trikala, Pella, Pieria, Kilkis, Lesvos, Imathia, Chania, Heraklion, Halkidiki, Zakynthos and the municipalities of Mykonos and Kythnos:

– There is a ban on the operation of all venues serving food and drinks from midnight until 5:00 in the morning.

– There is a suspension of all events, such as parties, fairs and processions

– A ban on all gatherings of more than nine people for any reason, both public and private

– A maximum number of four eople per table in the hospitality sector, or six if they are immediate family

– Mandatory use of a mask in public spaces, both outdoors and indoors

In the regional units of Thessaloniki, Corfu, Larisa, Karditsa, Rethymno, Lasithi and the municipalities of Thira, Volos, Katerini, Rhodes, Kos, Paros and Antiparos:

– Mandatory use of a mask in indoor areas

– Ban on the operation of all venues and shops from midnight until 5:00 in the morning.

People over 65 throughout the country are advised to generally use a mask and avoid public and private spaces where many people congregate, public services, public utilities, banks and public transport.