Filenews 8 July 2021 - by Marlena Panagi
The presentation of SafePass in almost all areas was decided by the Government, while announcing new restrictions on gatherings.
The new Decree will come into force tomorrow morning and includes measures aimed, as the Minister of Health, Michalis Hatzipandelas, said in informing the new decisions, "to minimise the likelihood of transmission of the virus in busy places and at social events".
The measures touch the field of sport, with football at the heart, the dining and entertainment areas, which will be able at the choice of the owner to be converted into "Covid-Free" venues, as well as the churches, since the restrictions decided affect the presence of believers in the sacred temples.
Detailed and in line with what the Minister of Health announced, from tomorrow:
- The maximum number of people indoors is set at 250 people with Safepass or 350 people provided that all persons are vaccinated at least with the 1st dose and a period of 3 weeks has passed or have been treated with COVID in the last six months.
- In the case of outdoors, the maximum number of persons shall be set at 350 persons with a necessary SafePass presentation or 500 persons provided that all persons are vaccinated at least with the 1st dose and a period of 3 weeks has passed or have been treated with COVID in the last six months.
In cases where the administrator/owner chooses to declare his premises in a 'covid-free' area, children aged 12 to 15 years and persons aged 16 years and over who cannot be vaccinated due to a serious medical problem are excluded from the obligation of vaccination. They must be able to provide a certificate of negative result from a PCR test or a 72-hour rapid antigen detection test.
This measure concerns dining venues, venues or banquets, nightclubs, music and dance venues, bars, record stores, theatres, amphitheatres, cinemas, religious worship venues and stadiums, with the exception of football fields.
'Businesses/premises which choose to accommodate only citizens who have been vaccinated or have been sick within the last 6 months with COVID should ensure that they indicate in a prominent place in their business/premises, as well as inform citizens of their decision', while 'responsibility for the observance of the application of SafePass and other sanitary measures will be the responsibility of the owner or manager of the undertakings and the premises'.
In addition, from tomorrow, what the Cabinet had decided at its meeting last Friday will come into force and include incentives for people who have been vaccinated or will be vaccinated, as well as restrictions on unvaccinated citizens. The Government had decided:
· Grant of holiday allowance to vaccinated persons from 15 July to 31 August.
· Grant a five-day honorary leave to those national guardsmen who have been vaccinated or will be vaccinated by 31 August 2021.
· Workers may be absent from work for the entire day of their vaccination, without the day being deducted from the worker's leave of absence and earnings.
· The same will apply in the case of a parent/legal guardian of a minor child, as long as the parent/legal guardian will accompany his minor child for vaccination.
Also, from tomorrow until 20 July, "only persons who have completed their vaccination regimen or have been vaccinated with the 1st dose of the vaccine and 3 weeks have passed, for persons holding a negative PCR certificate with a validity of 72 hours and for persons who have been adults with COVID-19 in the last 6 months at a rate of occupancy of 50% of the stadiums".
From 21 July, "only persons who have completed their vaccination regimen and persons who have been affected by COVID-19 in the last 6 months at an occupancy rate of 75% of the stadiums will be allowed to enter football matches.
