*Image credit: Intime News
As of May 4 when Greece gradually starts lifting lockdown measures, those caught not wearing a face mask while in enclosed spaces or taking public transportation, face a €150 fine.
“We must learn to live with face masks, as we learned to live with helmets on motorcycles and seat belts in cars,” Greece’s Deputy Development and Investment Minister Nikos Papathanassis said.
Health Ministry spokesperson and infectious diseases expert, Professor Sotiris Tsiodras noted that it may seem absurd that "we were positioned differently weeks ago", but explained that the data is now changing.
He stressed that "now conditions are new and the use of a mask is for the purpose of not transmitting the virus, not to avoid contracting it."
At the daily press briefing, Tsiodras also announced 10 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Greece in the last 24 hours, and 1 new death.
The total Covid-19 infections in Greece stands at 2,576.
Deaths total 139 since the start of the outbreak, while 41 patients are being treated in Intensive Care Units.
A total of 72,130 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Greece.
Now that the lockdown measures are cautiously and gradually being rolled back, "we are all responsible for our behaviour in public, because we will be leaving home more often," Civil Protection Deputy Minister for Crisis Management Nikos Hardalias stated.
He called upon the citizens to be more vigilant and follow the basic rules of hygiene and social distancing. "Let us show responsibility and care for the common good," so there is no reintroduction of measures, he urged, of the gradually relaxing restriction measures.