Locked down Greeks seek relief from heat spell

Residents of Greek capital heed to beaches and public parks on Sunday, taking vantage of unseasonably high temperatures for a small escape during an extended lockdown.People were seen sitting by sea, playing beach tennis and walking on seaside promene near Ans.Ors opted for workouts on grounds of Olympic sports complex.

In a nearby public park, young people cruised around on skateboards while ors walked in sun.Social distancing was not always maintained, and masks were not always worn.On Friday, Greece extended a two-month lockdown by at least one week, through Jan. 18, and announced plans to increase number of people getting COVID-19 vaccines from 5,000 per day to 8,000 per day.

Restrictions Greek government imposed in early November shut non-essential retail stores, entertainment venues, and restaurants and allowed people to leave ir homes only for a limited number of specific reasons.Primary schools and kindergartens in Greece reopened on Monday. Government officials have indicated a willingness to maintain lockdown measures for a longer period.

Greece launched its COVID-19 vaccination programme in late December.So far, nearly 35,000 people have received a first dose of a two-shot vaccine, according to government statistics. Greece has a population of around 11 million and has reported more than 144,700 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 5,263 deaths, according to officials numbers reported Sunday.

(Image Credit: AP)