THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS TO THE NATION

The Prime Minister on Relaxation of the Coronavirus Measures 

The Greek Prime Minister, Mr Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said on Tuesday that restrictions on citizens' movements would be lifted and shops allowed to reopen from the 4th of May in a gradual easing the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Greece has so far registered 2.566 coronavirus cases, including 18 deaths. much fewer than any other European Union countries, thanks partly to the swift imposition of its lockdown on March 23rd.

But the lockdown has paralysed an economy that has only emerged in the summer on 2018 from a decade long debt crisis, dashing expectations of strong growth this year.  The government now expects a deep recession of up tom 10% of national output.

"This is not the epilogue of our adventure with coronavirus.  Our emergence from the quarantine will be done step by step.   No one can rule out the risk of the threat rekindling" Mr Mitsotakis said on a televised address.  "A  return to normal life must lead to a collapse.

Although most restrictions on Greeks' free movement will be lifted on May the 4th, they will not be allowed to leave their wider region of residence, the prime minister added.

Some retail stores, including bookshops, hair saloons will reopen on May 4th and others later this month.  Schools will reopen gradually, starting on the 11th of May.  Greece relies heavily on tourism but has seen large-scale booking cancellations, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Its borders remain closed to non-European Union countries including the USA and Britain as well as Spain and Italy due to the lockdown measures. The government made no mention, on Tuesday, of when those restrictions will be lifted.

Greece says it is critical the EU adopt a common position, soon, on travels and reopening borders within the block.

Mr Mitsotakis emphasised the strengthening the health system and supporting the economy and job retention. He announced the allocation of 2 billion euros to assist businesses with reduced turnover, while the state will assume the cost of part workers'  wages in affected sectors.  "Moreover, all tax and insurance obligations will be suspended," he said.  "We want to save jobs, and I urge businesses not to make redundancies because there will be measures that will stimulate liquidity and allow them to withstand this adversity."

The prime minister also mentioned that 2.000 newly hired nursing staff were heading to their posts while 1.900 beds were added to hospitals.  "Our first priority is to save lives, which the reason that Greece imposed measures, unprecedented in time of peace."




(I wish to thank ERT, BBC, France 24, Kahimerinini, Estia, Greek City Times and New York Times for the valuable information for this post.)

NIMITS Hospital Athens

Attikon  Univerisity Hospital Athens