“Operation Freedom” information informing citizens and visitors to Greece. What to expect whilst out and about.

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The lifting of the curfew brings changes.

 

This weekend will be the first without the measure for the night traffic ban, with citizens now able to move freely after 1:30 pm, while the lifting of the measures brings changes in the hours of bars and restaurants and cafeterias.

 

What time do restaurants close?

The lifting of the measure of the traffic ban also brings the full liberalization of the opening hours of the restaurants and entertainment venues.

It is also emphasized that measures to protect and prevent the spread of coronavirus must be strictly enforced.

 

A useful guide of twenty questions and answers was published by the government in order to inform citizens and visitors about “Operation Freedom.

The new measures that will be in force, in order to achieve the wall of immunity as soon as possible. – We are building the Wall of Immunity”.

How restaurants will operate, what will happen in entertainment venues, is there unequal treatment of citizens, are individual rights violated, how to control entrants to theatres and restaurants are some of the current issues to which the government gives detailed explanations.

 

 

1. Are the measures of the policy dividing society? Do they lead to discrimination against citizens (vaccinated or not) and their unequal treatment?

 

Not only do they not divide society, but on the contrary they contribute to social cohesion and public health since tackling the pandemic affects society as a whole. It is the duty of the State to ensure that the social good of health applies to everyone. It is a complementary strategy that includes specific measures to encourage vaccination, in order to achieve the wall of immunity as soon as possible.

 

To formulate them, the government collaborated with the Bioethics Committee and the Committee of Specialist Infectious Diseases. The pandemic may be in recession, but we should not be complacent as the battle with the coronavirus is not over. Only vaccinated citizens are safe. It becomes self-evident for both the rule of law and health: vaccinated citizens return to normalcy, enjoying the rights they have been deprived of for 16 months. At the same time, the public health rules for the unvaccinated are maintained.

 

2. Do the measures lead to a violation of personal data and individual freedoms; do they violate the principle of dignity for citizens?

 

The government also works closely with the Personal Data Protection Authority, which is a Constitutional Independent Authority. The authenticity of the vaccination certificate will be checked through a digital application, no records will be kept. The authenticity of the digital or paper certificate of vaccination or disease will only be established and so on. The implementation of the measures will be done with full respect for the legislation concerning the protection of personal data and of course for the rights of all citizens.

 

3. Is the burden of public health care passed from the State to businesses?

 

There is an insurmountable need to build the projected wall of immunity at the required “height” which -according to scientists- will protect us from mutations and a possible new wave of the pandemic. It will allow the smoothest possible return to economic activity and social activity, as we have experienced and want it. So it is in the interest of entrepreneurs to contribute to this nationwide effort to persuade our hesitant fellow citizens to get the vaccine. It is a good practice that is applied abroad (United States, France, Denmark.) and has paid off. The State will do its job and companies have an obligation to comply with these public health measures in order to continue to operate smoothly.

 

4. Can catering, leisure and sports venues with all employees unvaccinated be converted to covid-free? In this case, what about unvaccinated workers (especially younger ones who have not yet been vaccinated)?

 

Catering and leisure workers must wear a mask and gloves and be tested. However, the criterion that differentiates customers from employees is the essential nature of the activity, in order to be legally supported. For customers it is entertainment, for employees it is an absolutely essential survival activity. Therefore, entrepreneurs certainly have the right to set strict health rules within the company (eg regular tests, enhanced protection masks, etc.) and to regulate the way their employees work, so that the pure use as a vaccinated area is not endangered.

 

5. How will entry be controlled?

 

The entrance check will be done with a digital application which will confirm the authenticity of the vaccination or disease certificate (in covid-free spaces) and the tests in mixed spaces (rapid test or PCR). It will be ready in the first ten days of July so that from the 15/7 that the closed gathering places will open, they will be able to choose whether to increase their capacity to become pure spaces. The application will be free and will be downloaded from gov.gr.

 

6. Can a company have mixed use outdoors and pure indoor use? How often can it change usage?

 

Yes, it can have a distinct use. However, the change of use can be done once.

 

7. The measures will make it difficult for couples, families and a group to go out together if not everyone is vaccinated.

 

The government urges all citizens to be vaccinated immediately, unless there are medical reasons that do not allow it. Yes, the answer is that entertainment, which is associated with increased mobility, will be easier for vaccinated and more difficult for unvaccinated citizens. However, couples, families and groups will be able to go to mixed dining and entertainment venues together, which means that vaccinated people will need to show their vaccination certificate or disease certificate and unvaccinated people will need the test result (rapid PCR).

 

8. Will unvaccinated minors be allowed in purely vaccinated areas?

 

In indoor areas, ie in theatres and cinemas, restaurants, cafes and stadiums, minors come with a self test statement, signed by their parents.

 

9. How will the customer know if a particular store is COVID free or mixed?

 

There will be special markings at the entrances of the exploitation areas (covid-free or mixed space) with a special reference on whether the company staff is also vaccinated.

 

10. How will shopkeepers / space owners be reacted to customers who may react?

 

They will call on the authorities to address them.

 

11. Why aren’t places created just for the vaccinated and only for the unvaccinated?

 

Vaccination, although it is – according to scientists – the most powerful “weapon” against the coronavirus, is not mandatory. Consequently, the State could not make such a distinction, to impose this distinction. Excluding the stadiums, therefore, due to their specificity (close contacts, voices, therefore easy spread of the virus) in all other areas will be the choice of the owner / entrepreneur himself whether he will make his space pure or mixed.

 

12. On which platform will companies declare the use of their choice?

 

This statement of the businessmen will be made on the platform of ERGANI.

 

13. Will it cost to use the digital application for identity checks?

No cost. It is an application that they will download to their mobile phones.

 

14. Why only rapid test or PCR in mixed spaces and not self test? Don’t we trust them?

 

There is no question of validity but confirmation of the truth of the statement by an independent third party as it is a non-essential activity so the risk of false statement is higher. The control will be done through the digital application.

 

15. How will a customer who wishes to enter a pure or mixed space be treated, even if he does not meet the conditions for entering it (certificate or test result)?

 

The company must indicate to him that by law he is not allowed to enter the store and if he insists the company must, without delay, notify the Authorities (eg Hellenic Police) in order to impose the relevant sanctions on the offender. If the company does not do so, it bears full responsibility.

 

16. What will be the fines for companies and customers who do not comply with the rules?

 

There will be a special framework of severe sanctions that will be announced next week and will concern both entrepreneurs and customers.

 

17. How will the closed restaurants from July 15 work if they are pure? (with or without a mask for customers? Will air-conditioners be allowed to be used indoors?)

 

Customers will not have to wear masks in covid-free areas. This obligation will apply to spectators in theatres and cinemas. Employees of these companies will be required to wear them. As for the air-conditioners, they will work normally in all clean spaces.

 

18. What will be the maximum occupancy of outdoor recreational areas – other than stadiums – when the space can accommodate more than 15,000 seats?

 

A maximum occupancy ceiling of 15,000 will be set.

 

19. Will outdoor and indoor nightclubs also serve standing customers or just sitting? Will they be able to dance?

 

Businesses that will operate purely for vaccinated will also serve standing customers and dancing will be allowed. After all, this is the reason why a lower maximum occupancy is provided for these spaces.

 

20. Will the measures also apply to tourists, some of whom have come to Greece for a stay of several days with a negative test and without necessarily being vaccinated?

 

Of course, what applies to Greek citizens will apply to tourists. Vaccinated foreign visitors should also show vaccination or disease certificates and negative test certificates, depending on where they are located.

source:- Gov.gr