Greece to fine those unvaccinated against COVID-19

(News 1st); Greece has become the latest country in the European Union to impose more restrictions on those unvaccinated against COVID-19 following a surge in infections in recent weeks.

In a televised address to the Nation, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that from Monday (06), unvaccinated people will be largely barred from indoor spaces, including restaurants, cinemas, museums and gyms, even if they test negative for COVID-19.

Greece has so far fully vaccinated about 62% of its population of some 11 million people. 

“This is indeed a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” Mitsotakis said. “Greece is mourning unnecessary losses because it simply does not have the vaccination rates of other European countries.”

Under the new regulations, vaccination certificates of those over 60 will be valid for seven months after being issued, in an effort to encourage them to get a third, “booster” shot.

Earlier in November, the Government imposed some restrictions on unvaccinated citizens but had allowed them access to most services, provided they tested negative.

Countries Austria, Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic all limited public life for the unvaccinated this week as infections rise across Europe.

The Greek Prime Minister said he would propose making this an EU-wide standard to the European Commission.