Two SMS for exceptional travel will be available to citizens on Easter Sunday in accordance with the new decree of the Minister of Health, as published on Friday evening in the Official Journal of the Government.
It is recalled that for the next two weeks, starting on Monday 26 April until Sunday 9 May, the exceptional movement daily by sending a single text message to 8998. In addition, there is no need to send a text message to go to vaccination centres.
The categories of travel by SMS:
- Go to a pharmacy or donate or visit a doctor or medical council or carry out a laboratory examination for Covid-19
- Go to buy or supply essential goods/services, including take away #
- Go to a bank to the extent that an online transaction is not possible
- Necessary visits to government services or services of the general public sector and local government
- Trafficking to assist persons who are unable to self-serve or who have to protect themselves or who are self-limiting and/or in places of compulsory restriction
- Move for physical exercise or individual exercise
- Go to a church and/or other place of religious worship or go to ceremonies such as funerals, weddings and baptisms
- Declaration of any other purpose of movement which may be justified on the basis of curfew measures
- Transition to an undertaking/organisation which is not suspended under the Infectious Decrees
No SMS is required for the following reasons
- For trafficking people with disabilities as well as people who fall within the autism spectrum, together with their companion.
- For the purposes of a pet or for physical exercise, provided that it is limited to the area adjacent to the residence (within a radius of 500 m from their residence) and provided that it does not exceed two persons, with the exception of minor children accompanied by their parents.
- For employees who continue to work with a physical presence in enterprises/sectors that have not suspended their operation, and wish to go on the route to/from their workplace to go to premises that remain in operation for the purchase of essentials or to Green Points operating in Municipalities/Communities for the disposal of items.
- For the purpose of going to a Vaccination Centre for a scheduled appointment against COVID-19, provided that the confirmation message or the relevant form or Vaccination Card is presented for the purpose of confirming the movement at that time.
- For the purpose of going to a Blood Donation Centre
The new measures
From Monday, April 26, 2021, at 5 a.m., until Sunday, May 9, 2021, at midnight the Council of Ministers decided:
- Traffic shall be prohibited from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following day except in the following cases:
(a) transition to and from workplaces, as well as for work purposes using the Employee Traffic Certificate Form;
(b) going to a medical centre or hospital or pharmacy or veterinarian for medical emergencies.
- Prohibition of gatherings, public or social events, regardless of private or public, domestic or external space (e.g. squares, dams, excursion areas, Marinas).
- Exceptionally and only on Easter Sunday (2 May), in addition to permanent residents, persons may be present in homes provided that they come from only two families and provided that the total number of persons in the house does not exceed 10 persons, including minors.
- Only once per person per day is allowed by sending a text message to 8998. To go for vaccination purposes for COVID-19, a text message is not required.
- Religious ceremonies (weddings, baptisms, funerals) with a maximum number of 10 persons are allowed.
- The presence of believers in places of religious worship is permitted for the purpose of individual prayer and with a maximum number within the space of 10 people.
- The presence of believers in the courtyard of the holy temples is permitted throughout holy week, respecting the measure of distancing and the health protocol applicable to the functioning of the churches and provided that arrangements are made for the faithful to attend. Also, the presence of believers in the courtyard of the holy temples, respecting the distancing measure and the health protocol applicable to the functioning of the churches and provided that arrangements are made for the faithful to attend. On the Great Saturday (1 May), to facilitate the participation of the faithful in the Resurrectable Sequence, instead of at 9 on Saturday night, the travel ban begins at 1 a.m. (Great Saturday to Easter Sunday). All other days, the travel ban remains as it is (9 p.m.).
- Public services require tele-work for at least 20% of staff, with the exception of essential and other services to be defined by Decree.
- Private service companies are allowed the simultaneous physical presence of 20% of their staff, with a minimum number of employees of 3 persons and a maximum of 25 persons per professional premises/legal person.
- Increase the rate of mandatory rapid detection tests on a weekly basis of 50% of employees. It is understood that businesses/services with a physical presence of up to five (5) persons are required to carry out tests for all five persons.
- All dining areas (restaurants, taverns, cafes, pubs, snack bars and bars, cafes and dining areas within shopping centres, canteens and/or sports groups, cultural groups, clubs, clubs, etc.) are suspended, with the exception of their services relating to home distribution and take away. It is understood that after 9 p.m. only home distribution is allowed.
- The operation of outdoor and closed theatres, amphitheatres, cinemas, and theatre rooms is suspended.
- The operation of retail businesses other than beverage and food retailers or essentials retailers as defined in the Ordinance shall be suspended.
- The operation of gyms, dance schools and other sports schools is suspended. Personal training is allowed in open outdoor areas where access is permitted under the Ordinance with a maximum number of two persons.
- The operation of gambling and betting businesses is suspended.
- The operation of barbershops, salons and beauty salons is suspended.
- All group care facilities, as well as sports and social activities for children under 18 years of age, are prohibited. It is understood that tele-education and physical instruction are permitted for up to two persons including the instructor (1+1).
"From 10 May 2021 the above measures are lifted and the regulations in force now are restored, provided that in places where there is a gathering place (dining areas, assembly areas, gym, retail, theatres, etc.), the visitor must be in possession of the rapid test or PCR in force for 72 hours or have been vaccinated at least with the 1st dose and have passed three weeks or have been ill with COVID-19 disease in the last 3 (three) months. The adoption of the above regulation will enable the easier and safer movement of our fellow citizens and allow us to safely return to more normal conditions," said the Minister of Health.
Source: eyenews
