Greece reopens cafes, restaurants as summer season nears

Greece allowed cafes and restaurants to reopen on Monday as part of a gradual lifting of its coronavirus restrictions to reboot its tourism-dependent economy and help draw in foreign visitors ahead of the summer season.

With tables set far apart and waitresses wearing masks, restaurants served the many Greeks keen to get out and enjoy food and a cup of coffee again after roughly two months of confinement.

So far, the country has managed to contain the spread of COVID-19 infections to just 2,878 cases and 171 deaths – low numbers compared with elsewhere in the EU – mainly by imposing an early nationwide lockdown in March.