Food and beverage sector reopens in Greece

The pandemic-battered food and beverage sector opens today – Monday, May 3 – throughout Greece, a day after Orthodox Easter Sunday and less than two weeks before the all-important commencement of the 2021 tourism season.

However, in the first phase of the opening, only seated customers in outdoor areas will be served at restaurants, eateries, cafes and bars – and then only up until 10:45 in the evening.

Except for take-out and delivery service, Greece’s food and beverage establishments have been closed since last November, when the Covid-19 pandemic appeared resurgent. A lockdown was then ordered.

More than 10,000 people have died in the country due to Covid-19, with more than 800 cases treated in hospital ICUs on a daily basis. Conversely, more than three million people have been vaccinated out of a total population in Greece of roughly 11 million.

All social distancing and public health precautions remain, with staff at reopened businesses required to wear face masks and report two negative Covid-19 tests per week. Self-tests are distributed for free to eligible wage-earners by neighborhood pharmacies.

Other restrictions are six persons per table, with a proper distance between the latter also mandated. Additionally, music is prohibited at restaurants and cafes, with the government later qualifying this restriction – which was roundly criticized – as emanating from public health experts’ advice. According to the latter, people try to speak over loud music, with the result being a greater transmission of germs from one’s mouth.