Greece to drop most mask restrictions from June 1

Greece’s health minister announced Wednesday that most mask restrictions will be lifted from June 1 to mid-September, coinciding with the peak of the country’s vital tourism season.

Masks, according to Thanos Plevris, will no longer be required in most areas, including planes and intercity travel, but will remain required in hospitals, nursing homes, and city transportation.

While the failure to wear a mask will no longer carry a fine, their use is still recommended, the minister said.

Education facilities and ferries will be subject to a later announcement, he said.

Plevris said last month that Greece was trying to “coexist” with Covid-19.

The government early this year began removing restrictions to boost tourism, which accounts for around a quarter of the national income.

Mandatory screening tests for travelers who hold a European vaccination certificate were scrapped in February, before the tourism season launched in March.

Vaccine passes in restaurants, bars and shops have also been dropped.

Over 29,000 people have died in Greece as a result of the virus, with over 3.4 million cases recorded so far.

On Wednesday, 19 more people were killed.