Public Christmas celebrations banned in Greece to stem omicron

Greece’s health minister announced on Thursday that public Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations would be banned and masks would be required in public spaces in an effort to address the omicron variant of the coronavirus. 

Starting on Friday, citizens will also be required to wear two masks or masks that offer higher protection on public transit and in grocery stores. International visitors will also be “strongly encouraged” to take two PCR tests within a few days after their arrival, according to Reuters. 

“We are constantly monitoring the cases to see if behind Delta variant there is a spread of Omicron,” Health Minister Thanos Plevris said at a news conference, Reuters reported.

The new restrictions come as the country fears what an uptick in infections after the holiday could mean for its economy. 

Plevris added that more measures could be expected in the new year regarding sports and other entertainment events in order to prevent Greece from having another lockdown.

Thus far, Greece has only had a few dozen omicron cases, though infections have recently stressed the country’s hospitals, Reuters reported. 

On Wednesday, 5,641 new infections and 69 deaths were reported in Greece, where 67 percent of the population is vaccinated, the news service added.

As the holidays approach, other leaders, including New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D), have considered changes to holiday celebrations. Specifically, the mayor is considering imposing more safety restrictions during New York City’s New Year’s Eve celebration

“We’re looking to add additional measures to make it even safer. We’re still in discussion. The goal, of course, is to keep it going,” de Blasio said on CNN this week.