Locked down Greeks seek relief from heat spell

Residents of the Greek capital headed to beaches and public parks on Sunday, taking advantage of unseasonably high temperatures for a small escape during an extended lockdown.People were seen sitting by the sea, playing beach tennis and walking on the seaside promenade near Athens.Others opted for workouts on the grounds of the Olympic sports complex.

In a nearby public park, young people cruised around on skateboards while others walked in the 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 the number of people getting COVID-19 vaccines from 5,000 per day to 8,000 per day.

Restrictions the Greek government imposed in early November shut non-essential retail stores, entertainment venues, and restaurants and allowed people to leave their 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 the 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)