Museums across the country will reopen on Monday after a three-month shutdown imposed by health authorities against the coronavirus outbreak.
The Public National Health Organization (EODY) and the Ministry of Culture and Sports have collaborated extensively to ensure that a two-meter indoors – 1.5 meters outdoors – distance among all visitors is observed at all times, alongside the mandatory use of protective face masks and an eight-people group tour maximum.
On the occasion of the re-opening of the museums, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the archaeological site and the museum of the Ancient Agora of Athens, accompanied by Culture and Sports Minister Lina Mendoni.
“You cannot think of Greece without open archaeological sites and museums. We are glad that all our museums are open today to all visitors, both Greeks and foreigners,” the prime minister said.
Mitsotakis pointed out that the archaeological sites have been open for a month now (since May 18) and today our museums are also opening “so that they can safely welcome – above all – the visitors, who will visit our country this summer, but also those of our fellow citizens who want to rediscover the beauty, the magic of this special place, but also of all our archaeological sites.”
“Our first concern is safety”
Mitsotakis sent a clear message to the prospective visitors, reassuring them that the first concern of the government is the safety of visitors, but also the safety of employees.
“That is why all the necessary measures have been taken to ensure that this opening, in the post-coronavirus period, will be as safe as possible,” he said.
He reiterated that this summer will be different from the previous ones, but, as he said, “we want the experience of contact with the Greek culture to be as authentic as possible. And this is exactly what we are trying to do with the significant support and the great work of the culture ministry.”
On her part, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni stressed that the ministry and the competent authorities have taken all the necessary measures so that visitors can feel totally safe. Addressing the prime minister, she said: “Thanks to you, Greece has won the big bet to be one of the safest destinations, one of the safest countries today.”
Source: orthodoxitimes
