Greece to reopen high schools using Covid-19 self-tests

Greece will reopen high schools next week (April 12) despite a record number of daily new cases recently, officials announced on Wednesday.

The first free covid self-tests have also arrived in pharmacies across Greece.

The kits will be distributed first to teachers and students aged 16-18.

They will be required to use the test kits twice weekly, Education Minister Niki Kerameus said.

All citizens with an AMKA social security number will be entitled to four tests per month (one test per week) from their neighbourhood pharmacy.

"This is a huge project. Greece leads the way," said Alternate Health Minister Vassilis Kontozamanis, adding that 2 million self-test kits were already available and there would be another 7 million by the end of next week.

If a person returns a positive self-test result, they must register it on the self-testing.gov.gr website and must undergo a second free rapid antigen test at a health facility. Until this result is returned, they and their family should remain at home (self-isolate). In case the confirmatory test is positive, the General Secretariat of Civil Protection will contact them for further instructions and begin tracing their contacts.

Negative self-test results do not have to be registered.

Earlier this week, small retail stores were allowed to operate under specific rules. 

Under strict conditions, Greek City Times photographed Ermou Street, the main shopping pedestrian avenue in Athens, and the historic centre of Monastiraki on the first day of partial retail reopening.

*More on GCT: Restaurants, bars and cafes in Greece to reopen after Easter