On the occasion of Greece cautiously reopening museums, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the archeological site and the museum of the Ancient Agora of Athens.
Mitsotakis was accompanied by Culture and Sports Minister Lina Mendoni.
"We cannot consider Greece without open archeological sites and museums. We are glad that all our museums are open today to all visitors, both Greeks and foreigners," the PM said, as reported by in.gr.
As a precautionary measure to help control the spread of the deadly virus, museums and archaeological sites in Greece were closed on March 13.
Greece’s archaeological sites reopened to the public with new visitor rules on May 18, which became the talk of global media outlets.
Mitsotakis pointed out that today museums are also opening "so that they can safely welcome - above all - the visitors, who will visit our country this summer, but also those of our fellow citizens who want to rediscover the beauty, the magic of this special place, but also of all our archeological sites."
The Public National Health Organization (EODY) and the Ministry of Culture & Sports have collaborated extensively to ensure that a 2 meters indoors – 1.5 meters outdoors – distance among all visitors is observed at all times, alongside the mandatory use of protective face masks and an eight-people group tour maximum.
Mitsotakis sent a clear message to the prospective visitors, reassuring them that the first concern of the government is the safety of visitors, but also the safety of employees.
"That is why all the necessary measures have been taken to ensure that this opening, in the post-coronavirus period, will be as safe as possible," he said.
He also reiterated that this summer will be different from the previous ones, but - as he said - "we want the experience of contact with the Greek culture to be as authentic as possible. And this is exactly what we are trying do with the significant support and the great work of the culture ministry."
Δεν νοείται Ελλάδα χωρίς ανοιχτούς αρχαιολογικούς χώρους και χωρίς ανοιχτά μουσεία. Θέλω να ευχαριστήσω όλους τους εργαζόμενους του Υπουργείου Πολιτισμού, όλους τους εργαζόμενους στα μουσεία και στους αρχαιολογικούς χώρους, οι οποίοι τηρούν τα απαραίτητα μέτρα ασφάλειας. pic.twitter.com/PiF4Fv3GmR
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) June 15, 2020
On her part, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni stated that "today is a very important day. Especially for Greece, the reopening of all the infrastructures that are combined with the cultural heritage, is something extremely important."
"Our 'motto' is 'safety first.' Safety in archeological sites, safety in museums, safety for visitors, Greeks and foreigners, safety for workers," Mendoni emphasised, adding that "museums have completely adapted to the protocols for our visitors, Greeks and foreigners, to feel and be safe, and of course the employees."
