The Greek lockdown explained: the do’s and don’t’s

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on the lockdown on Sunday, a press conference was held by government Minsters to further clarify the restrictions.

Greece’s State and Digital Governance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Citizen Protection Deputy Minister Lefteris Economou, Deputy Health Minister Vassilis Kontozamanis and Deputy Interior Minister Theodoros Livanios issued the following clarifications, noting that medical and nursing personnel, designated staff from civil protection, security forces and the armed forces will be exempted from the circulation ban:

Reasons to leave home

Citizens may only circulate outside their homes for the following eight reasons:

1. Going to and from work during work hours.
2. Going to a pharmacy or a scheduled medical appointment.
3. Going to a store for basic goods, when there is no home delivery.
4. Going to the bank if an online transaction is not possible.
5. Going to help out people in need.
6. Going to an event such as a wedding, baptism, funeral or such, in accordance with the law.
7. Going out to exercise or to walk a pet, and only singly or by two. In the latter case, keeping a distance of 1.5 meters between the walkers/runners.
8. Moving back to one’s main residence.

Identification when Moving Out and About

Citizens that need to circulate must bear a police ID or a passport with them, and a paper proving their need to circulate. There are two types of documents for the latter, he said:

• Document A relates to citizen circulation, and is filled out once by the person going to work, with name, home address, work address, and shift schedule. This will be provided by employers.
• Document B is for trips not related to work, and must be filled out by a citizen every time they wish to leave their house. It must contain name, home address, destination, and reason for circulation.

Any violation of these rules will carry a 150-euro fine, he noted.

At any time as of Monday, people are banned from using children’s play areas, outdoor exercise facilities, organised marinas, parks and smaller local parks.

Passenger restriction

Mass transport will run on limited but basic work schedules. There are no restrictions on private cars except that there can be no more than one passenger.

forma.gov.gr

State and Digital Governance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis explained that forms for workers and employers would be ready for downloading by Sunday night at forma.gov.gr. Other options include a piece of paper and handwriting the data necessary. The third option is sending a text message to 13033. In the body of the text note any of the above reasons (1 to 6), leave a space, add your name, then your home address. (Directions for this also to be found on forma.gov.gr.)

Reasons to be listed on form, from 1 to 6:

1. pharmacy, doctor;
2. basic needs or supermarket that doesn’t deliver;
3. bank if e-banking not possible;
4. helping people in need;
5. funeral, baptism, wedding, or divorced parents’ visitation rights;
6. outdoor exercise or pet walking.

Mayors’ responsibilities

He also specified that as municipal dining facilities would be closed, food would be delivered at home or in the case of the homeless, at a homeless shelter. Particular care would be expended on the homeless, the drug addicts and the Roma, he said. Cities must ensure no homeless person is out of a shelter, and he also asked mayors to remember stray animals and ensure they are fed.

A recent memo he said had upgraded the “Help at Home” program so that citizens who have mobility and other issues can be helped by municipal employees with at-home deliveries. Regions received 5 million euros and municipalities 11 million euros to cover such emergency needs, he said.

Parties’ support

Following the Prime Minister’s initial announcement of the measures and details announced by the ministers, support for them was expressed by main opposition SYRIZA and its leader Alexis Tsipras, Movement for Change (KINAL) leader Fofi Gennimata, Communist Party (KKE) General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoubas and Elliniki Lysi leader Kyriakos Velopoulos.