Monday, July 14, 2025
54.0°F

Stores in Greece open amid virus surge to help save economy

Derek Gatopoulos | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 3 months AGO
by Derek GatopoulosCostas Kantouris
| April 5, 2021 6:03 AM

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Retail stores across most of Greece were allowed to reopen Monday despite an ongoing surge in COVID-19 infections, as the country battles to emerge from deep recession.

Stores in greater Athens opened for pickup services only but remain closed in Greece's second- and third-largest cities, Thessaloniki and Patras, because of fears of a more serious spike in infections.

Lockdown measures have been in force since early November, although shops opened briefly around the Christmas holiday season. The prolonged closures piled pressure on the economy.

Greek economic output shrank by 8.2% in 2020 while the national debt as a percentage of gross domestic product shot over 200%.

About 16% of the country’s residents have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccination but infection rates continue to rise.

“Opening retail businesses ... will provide a decompression valve for our society and will help improve the implementation of (restrictive) measures,” government spokeswoman Aristoltelia Peloni said.

The center-right government has pinned its reopening policy on the mass distribution of test kits that will be provided for free on a weekly basis to help reopen schools, expected later this month, and the country’s vital tourism industry in mid-May.

In Thessaloniki, in northern Greece, protesting store owners hung black banners outside business entrances, angry that they weren't allowed to reopen. Others opened their stores but didn't serve customers, in an act of defiance. The head of the city's chamber of commerce, Michalis Zorpidis, told the AP that it was taking the government to the country's highest administrative court.

“We feel that the decision is unfair and illegal. That's why we took legal actions against the government to reverse the decision,” Zorpidis said.

The daily number of confirmed infections nationwide — a statistic affected by testing levels — reached the highest rate since the start of the pandemic in Greece at 28.5 per 100,000 residents as a seven-day rolling average. The death rate is currently above the European Union average with the cumulative total at more than 8,300.

___

Costas Kantouris reported from Thessaloniki. ___ Follow Derek Gatopoulos at https://twitter.com/dgatopoulos and Costas Kantouris at https://twitter.com/CostasKantouris

MORE IMPORTED STORIES

Stores in Greece open amid virus surge to help save economy
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 4 years, 3 months ago
Stores in Greece open amid virus surge to help save economy
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 4 years, 3 months ago
Greece: Bishop's death revives debate on communion safety
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 4 years, 7 months ago

ARTICLES BY DEREK GATOPOULOS

June 16, 2021 12:09 a.m.

US, Russia envoys discuss Iran nuclear deal ahead of summit

VIENNA (AP) — Delegations from Russia and the United States involved in nuclear negotiations with Iran held talks in Vienna on Monday, two days ahead of a summit meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

June 15, 2021 12:03 a.m.

Caution on Iran nuclear deal as G7 leaders vow to stop bomb

VIENNA (AP) — Diplomats from outside the European Union cautioned Sunday that negotiations with Iran to salvage a landmark nuclear deal still need more time, as leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy nations reaffirmed a commitment to stop the Islamic republic from building nuclear weapons.

June 15, 2021 12:03 a.m.

US, Russia envoys discuss Iran nuclear deal ahead of summit

VIENNA (AP) — Delegations from Russia and the United States involved in nuclear negotiations with Iran held talks in Vienna on Monday, two days ahead of a summit meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin.