Athens: Greece on Monday introduced a mandatory weekly testing for all workers who were not vaccinated when struggling to increase the level of vaccination left behind the average European Union.
Public and private sector employees must pay for weekly testing or carry a vaccination certificate to gain access to their workplace, while children who are not vaccinated in secondary schools that are reopened Monday are given a test kit distributed at government costs.
Similar limits will also apply to sports stadiums, museums and archaeological sites, as well as indoor recreation areas such as cinemas and restaurants.
About 56% of Greece has been fully vaccinated, while the average level in the EU is more than 60%.
Greece has imposed a vaccine mandate for health care workers and allows the vaccination of children to start at the age of 12 years.
Lockdown last year pushed the economy to become a recession, with 2020 shrink output of 8.2%.
Government officials said the country was unable to stop economic activities during the second year.
“At present, the pandemic (in Greece) shows signs of de-escalation, so the steps seem to work, ” Minister of Development Adonis Georgiadis told private SKAI television.” Unfortunately, this escalation is accompanied by death.
from our fellow citizens who are not vaccinated.
It hurts me to know that these people can live, but they are victims of conspiracy theories.
“
Greece launches mandatory testing for unvaccinated workers
