Greece on Monday reopened restaurants and cafe&nbsp;terraces&nbsp;after six months amid the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-hosts-first-g7-foreign-ministers-meeting-since-start-of-pandemic-382526">coronavirus</a> pandemic as Orthodox Christians in the country celebrated Easter.

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The country has been under coronavirus <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-locals-urge-government-to-let-them-hug-as-covid-lockdown-eases-382205">restrictions</a> since November as it experienced the third wave which hit Greece hard with over 10,000 deaths reported.&nbsp;

The government had allowed non-essential businesses and schools to reopen last months as it slowly moved to remove restrictions although authorities have continued curfew till 11pm in order to keep the COVID-19 situation under control.

On Monday, however, only cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating were allowed to reopen even as several restaurants closed permanently in Athens and Thessaloniki.&nbsp;

The restaurants had to comply with stringent <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/pictures-with-smelling-abilities-hit-by-covid-19-wine-testers-fear-the-loss-of-livelihood-382444">COVID-19</a> rules with only six people allowed per table and waiters to mandatorily wear masks and coronavirus testing to take place once a week.

Greece which depends heavily on tourism lifted a mandatory seven-day quarantine for travellers from the European Union, US, UK, Israel, Serbia and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-to-allow-immunised-citizens-to-travel-abroad-382392">United Arab Emirates</a>, but tourists have to show proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test.

The government had said earlier that it plans to ramp up its vaccine rollout to build "wall of immunity" while adding that it would finish vaccinating all the over-60s by May.&nbsp;

Authorities has sped up the vaccination drive ahead of the summer tourist season with people over 30 currently eligible for the jab amid reports European Union has proposed travellers who are fully vaccinated with EU-approved jabs be able to enter the bloc soon.

The European Union has four vaccines authorised by the European Medicines Agency(EMA) namely Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson &amp; Johnson. The EMA is also contemplating the use of &nbsp;Russia's Sputnik V vaccine.

Greece has over 345,000 COVID-19 cases currently with over 10,400 fatalities. The country plans to formally reopen on May 14 with several businesses eager to welcome summer travellers after losing out last year.

Greece on Monday reopened restaurants and cafe terraces after six months amid the coronavirus pandemic as Orthodox Christians in the country celebrated Easter. Watch: The country has been under coronavirus restrictions since November as it experienced the third wave which hit Greece hard with over 10,000 deaths reported.

Greece on Monday reopened restaurants and cafe terraces after six months amid the coronavirus pandemic as Orthodox Christians in the country celebrated Easter. Watch: The country has been under coronavirus restrictions since November as it experienced the third wave which hit Greece hard with over 10,000 deaths reported. The government had allowed non-essential businesses and schools to reopen last months as it slowly moved to remove restrictions although authorities have continued curfew till 11pm in order to keep the COVID-19 situation under control. On Monday, however, only cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating were allowed to reopen even as several restaurants closed permanently in Athens and Thessaloniki. The restaurants had to comply with stringent COVID-19 rules with only six people allowed per table and waiters to mandatorily wear masks and coronavirus testing to take place once a week. Greece which depends heavily on tourism lifted a mandatory seven-day quarantine for travellers from the European Union, US, UK, Israel, Serbia and the United Arab Emirates, but tourists have to show proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test. The government had said earlier that it plans to ramp up its vaccine rollout to build "wall of immunity" while adding that it would finish vaccinating all the over-60s by May. Authorities has sped up the vaccination drive ahead of the summer tourist season with people over 30 currently eligible for the jab amid reports European Union has proposed travellers who are fully vaccinated with EU-approved jabs be able to enter the bloc soon. The European Union has four vaccines authorised by the European Medicines Agency(EMA) namely Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. The EMA is also contemplating the use of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. Greece has over 345,000 COVID-19 cases currently with over 10,400 fatalities. The country plans to formally reopen on May 14 with several businesses eager to welcome summer travellers after losing out last year.

Greece reopens restaurant terraces amid joy after long Covid lockdown

Authorities in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki have dug dozens of graves for the victims of COVID-19 after a sharp increase in the number of deaths.

Greece has extended national lockdown till December 14

The lockdown takes effect at 6:00 a.m. Saturday and runs until November 30. Like a similar lockdown in March, all non-essential retail businesses will be closed and residents will need a permit to go outdoors.

Greece enforces three-week national COVID-19 lockdown

As <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-to-unveil-a-mega-stimulus-package-to-recover-economy-301238">Europen </a>nations begin to loosen lockdown restrictions while keeping their borders closed, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said that border closures do not impact the spread of coronavirus in a big way.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/global-coronavirus-cases-near-56-million-death-toll-rises-to-350509-301252">Also Read:&nbsp;Global coronavirus cases near 5.6 million, death toll rises to 350,509</a>

ECDC said that testing travellers before departure or temperature screening on arrival are also largely ineffective since travellers could be infected before or during departure.

European nations had closed their borders as the virus began to spread in March and imposed strict lockdown measures with Italy, Spain and&nbsp;France being the hardest hit due to the virus.

"Available evidence does not support recommending border closures, which will cause significant secondary effects and societal and economic disruption in the EU," the European agency said.

The Spanish government had asked the European Union earlier to set up common rules to open borders in order ensure travel is allowed once again within the continent in all the 26-country Schengen area.

The Czech government had said earlier that it would open border crossings with Germany and Austria from Tuesday amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Czech ministry said that travellers would have to carry evidence of negative COVID-19 tests while crossing over the Czech Republic.

Greece which ended its lockdown in early May had announced recently that it would allow travellers from &nbsp;Germany, Cyprus and Israel to visit from mid-June without quarantine restrictions.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said Germans will be allowed to visit Greece from June 15.&nbsp;

As Europen nations begin to loosen lockdown restrictions while keeping their borders closed, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said that border closures do not impact the spread of coronavirus in a big way.

As Europen nations begin to loosen lockdown restrictions while keeping their borders closed, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said that border closures do not impact the spread of coronavirus in a big way. Also Read: Global coronavirus cases near 5.6 million, death toll rises to 350,509 ECDC said that testing travellers before departure or temperature screening on arrival are also largely ineffective since travellers could be infected before or during departure. European nations had closed their borders as the virus began to spread in March and imposed strict lockdown measures with Italy, Spain and France being the hardest hit due to the virus. "Available evidence does not support recommending border closures, which will cause significant secondary effects and societal and economic disruption in the EU," the European agency said. The Spanish government had asked the European Union earlier to set up common rules to open borders in order ensure travel is allowed once again within the continent in all the 26-country Schengen area. The Czech government had said earlier that it would open border crossings with Germany and Austria from Tuesday amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Czech ministry said that travellers would have to carry evidence of negative COVID-19 tests while crossing over the Czech Republic. Greece which ended its lockdown in early May had announced recently that it would allow travellers from Germany, Cyprus and Israel to visit from mid-June without quarantine restrictions. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said Germans will be allowed to visit Greece from June 15.

Border closures, pre-travel tests largely ineffective against COVID-19 spread: EU health agency

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Tuesday restrictions on citizens' movements would be lifted and more shops allowed to reopen from May 4 in a gradual easing of a lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.

Greece to ease COVID-19 lockdown from May 4 | Coronavirus Pandemic

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Greece reopens restaurant terraces amid joy after long Covid lockdown

Greece has extended national lockdown till December 14

Greece enforces three-week national COVID-19 lockdown

Border closures, pre-travel tests largely ineffective against COVID-19 spread: EU health agency

Greece to ease COVID-19 lockdown from May 4 | Coronavirus Pandemic