Friday , March 29 2024

Catering – Key dates for outdoor operation of restaurants, retail and pilot scheme for tourism

With self-tests entering the battle against the coronavirus pandemic, April seems to be the month of opening up the country’s economic activity and easing the lockdown.

According to Sofia Fasoulaki’s report for Open, the government’s plan includes a gradual opening of the market. With the help of the tests that are done by KOMY, but also the self tests that will be done in the house. The government aspires and wants to open the economic activity slowly. That is the small retail and not the big shopping centres for a start. With a most probable date of April 5th, if all goes well epidemiologically. Then attempt a first opening of the restaurant outdoors, with possible dates between April 15th and 20th.

On the same dates – around April 10th – the opening of tourism is expected to take place on a pilot basis. Mainly with tourists from Israel and the United Arab Emirates. So it will be a first experiment with the help of self tests, which will be necessary for employees to do, both in catering and retail.

Skertsos: The outdoor restaurant will open in April

Akis Skertsos appeared optimistic about the opening of the market and schools in April with the free tests (self test) for the coronavirus making this a possibility. In particular, the Undersecretary to the Prime Minister, initially stating that “the strategy that will be implemented from the beginning of April aims at the controlled opening of the market, society and education.

The free self tests will make this a possibility. He explained that these are valid, effective home tests so that every citizen can check his own health. “Fortunately, there is a tendency to stabilize and de-escalate cases, hospital admissions and increase discharges,” he added.

Regarding the opening of the market, Akis Skertsos said: “Because of the tests, it seems that retail and education can open in early April.” He also acknowledged that restrictive measures must be lifted in order for the economy and psychology of citizens to improve.

While, regarding the inter-municipal movements, he stressed that it is too early to say anything about this issue. Speaking to Mega, the Deputy Minister, to the Prime Minister, referred to another factor that will help to de-escalate the pressure from the pandemic.  That is the improvement of the weather conditions.

“This is why we are launching activities that help people operate outdoors,” he said, stressing that the outdoor restaurant will open in April. “The provision of free self tests will be valid for April and May. From June it will be possible to withdraw these due to the increased vaccinations. “But if necessary, it will continue”, noted Mr. Skertsos.

Vasilakopoulos: Gradual opening of the small shops and the outdoor areas in the restaurant

The de-escalation of the third phase of the coronavirus pandemic is seen to be coming in the next days according to the professor of pulmonology, Theodoros Vasilakopoulos.  He emphasizes that people can not stand a strict lockdown and small shops and outdoor restaurants should gradually open.

Pulmonology professor Theodoros Vasilakopoulos spoke to Open and Faye Mavragani about the opening of restaurants and retail in our country in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. He said that “there is a slight improvement, we have a flattening of the viral load in sewage. There is a reduction in cases, while fewer patients are coming to hospitals. If we do a strict lockdown, cases will be reduced but people cannot stand it. Instead of the contacts in the houses that is being done now. Opening the small shops, with a 3 hour time limit, will be controlled. And in the restaurant will be able to open the outdoor spaces “.

Sarigiannis: The opening of the retail trade on April 12 is safe

“Signal” for controlled opening of the market and schools were sent by the professor of Environmental Engineering at AUTh, Demosthenes Sarigiannis.  He stressed that retail could “open on the 12th of the month, not earlier, because we will not be able to decompress until then. We can open on the 12th “he noted, while regarding the schools he proposed the opening of the lykeio on April 5, with a test and the reopening of primary and secondary schools after Easter.

“This slow opening is better.. So that we do not go to an opening – a closing that is tiring “he added. At the same time, he underlined that the transmissibility index (RT) of the virus is now at 1, something that, if it continues, foretells stabilization. “We are in the peak phase of the wave,” he explained.

Who will the self test will be mandatory for?

Self-testing will be mandatory for specific groups of employees, as announced by the Deputy Minister of Health, Vassilis Kontozamanis. In the first days, priority will be given to people up to 67 years old, because they are an active working age group. More instructions will be given in the coming days. If positive, a second rapid test can confirm the result.

Coast Guard, Shipping, Retail, Catering, Tourism, Manufacturing, Courts, Business Workers, are also priority.

In schools: compulsory self test for teachers and students once a week

source: ethnos.gr

About Liz Osborn

Liz Osborn's first experience of the island was as a holiday rep in 1992. She fell in love with everything Zakynthian and has been here since then. Liz became a Greek citizen in 2003 and has been active in tourism and the Greek life over the years. Liz's support of the island saw her joining the Zakynthos Informer team in 2020

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