COVID-19 in Greece: What Happened
The COVID-19 pandemic reached Greece on 26 February 2020, when the first case was confirmed in Thessaloniki. The government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis acted quickly, closing schools, shops and public spaces and introducing a national lockdown in March 2020, earlier than many other European countries. Daily televised briefings by the infectious disease expert Sotiris Tsiodras became a national ritual, and he was widely trusted. During the first wave, Greece recorded far fewer deaths than most of Western Europe, and its response was praised internationally. The country reopened to tourists in the summer of 2020 with testing and border controls, as tourism is vital to the Greek economy. Later waves in the autumn of 2020 and in 2021 hit Greece much harder, with hospitals under severe pressure, especially in northern Greece, and tens of thousands of people died over the course of the pandemic. Greece rolled out vaccines from late 2020, and the pandemic sped up the digitalization of public services, including electronic prescriptions and the gov.gr platform. The economy shrank sharply in 2020 before recovering.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did COVID-19 reach Greece?
The first case of COVID-19 in Greece was confirmed on 26 February 2020 in Thessaloniki, in a woman who had recently returned from northern Italy.
How did Greece respond to COVID-19?
Greece closed schools, shops and public spaces and introduced a national lockdown in March 2020, earlier than many other European countries.
Who was Sotiris Tsiodras?
Sotiris Tsiodras was the infectious disease expert whose daily televised briefings during the pandemic became a national ritual and earned wide public trust.
How did COVID-19 affect Greek tourism?
Greece reopened to tourists in summer 2020 with testing and border controls, but the pandemic hit tourism hard, and the economy shrank sharply in 2020.
How did COVID-19 change Greek public services?
The pandemic sped up the digitalization of public services, including electronic prescriptions and the gov.gr online platform.
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