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By George Georgiopoulos ATHENS, Aug 3 (Reuters)– Greece will certainly make mask-wearing compulsory on the decks of ferryboats cruising to its islands, expanding the need past interior public rooms, after an unexpected increase in coronavirus infections that might place its critical tourist period in jeopardy.

Greece reported 110 brand-new instances on Saturday, its highest possible single-day boost in numerous weeks. Another 75 validated instances were reported on Sunday.

Last week Greece made mask-wearing necessary in all interior public rooms as well as likewise in exterior rooms where correct social distancing can not be observed.

The federal government is likewise thinking about additional visuals.

“Compliance with this measure is crucial to avoid more drastic measures that would reduce passenger-load limits on ships,” federal government spokesperson Stelios Petsas informed press reporters.

The brand-new procedure will certainly enter into result from Tuesday tillAug 18, as the summer season holiday strikes its top.

Greece has actually until now validated 4,662 COVID-19 instances and also 208 fatalities, a fairly reduced number compared to numerous European nations, after enforcing a lockdown in the springtime.

But prices have actually been approaching after a time-out from late May to late July.

Cyprus claimed on Sunday it would certainly present required screening for all arrivals from Greece fromAug 6. The eastern Mediterranean island is believed to be the very first nation to need examinations on arrivals from Greece given that the lockdown reduced.

“It is a decision which personally I don’t understand, I believe it is wrong or at least I don’t know the criteria on which it was based,” Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theocharis informed Parapolitika radio.

“I hope there will be some sort of communication, some understanding between epidemiologists from both sides,” he claimed, including that Greece is a secure nation.

Tourism is an essential vehicle driver of Greece’s economic climate which is seen reducing as much as 10 percent this year and also is gradually arising from a years of financial debt dilemma. Greece is a preferred vacation location for countlessCypriots (Additional coverage by Renee Maltezou Editing by David Holmes and also Nick Macfie)

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