Greeks Rush to Barbers, Florists after Lockdown Eases

Varieties

May 6th, 5:27am

London - Asharq Al-Awsat

People walk across the empty Monastiraki square under the Acropolis in central Athens, on March 18. Photographer: Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP via Getty Images

As part of a gradual easing of lockdown restrictions imposed six weeks ago to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, barbershops, hair salons, flower shops, and libraries have opened their doors in Greece on Monday. Police conducted inspections on buses, in metro stations and shops to make sure people were wearing the mandatory protective masks and respecting social distancing rules. Greeks no longer need a form stating a valid reason such as shopping for food or medicine, or taking physical exercise for permission to leave their homes. Athens and other cities saw increased traffic flows and queues formed outside electrical appliance shops, which also reopened for the first time since the lockdown measures were imposed, Reuters reported. Greece, a country of 11 million people, has so far registered 2,626 cases of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, and 144 deaths, far fewer than in many other European countries.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2269916/greeks-rush-barbers-florists-after-lockdown-eases