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July 30, 2021 Greece has decided to deploy additional police officers to the holiday islands to intensify anti-Covid controls, especially in the places frequented by younger people, to counter the worrying spread of the Delta variant.



"While family-run hotels and venues are diligently enforcing the protocols, there is more congestion than we would like to see in bars, especially from younger ones ... so we're trying to ensure that a certain balance is maintained," he said.

Greek Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis

told the

Guardian

.



On the island of Mykonos alone, 186 agents were sent, compared to 56 last year, and yesterday another 30 agents reached Ios, supported by security officials and undercover agents.



According to the Greek Deputy Minister of Civil Protection, Nikos Hardalias, Mykonos and Ios are "one step away" from new restrictions, and the situation in the islands of Zakynthos, Tinos, Lefkada, Santorini, Paros and Rhodes also remains worrying. Not surprisingly, the Greek islands of the southern Aegean were marked dark red on the European map for Covid yesterday, indicating that all travel, except essential ones, to and from the region is discouraged. The group of 13 islands includes Mykonos, Santorini and Rhodes. 



Unlike the rest of Europe, the tourism industry in Greece has been doing relatively well in the 10 weeks since the opening of the season. Last month, said the Minister of Tourism, revenues increased by "more than 400% compared to June last year". Tourism represents almost 25% of the Greek GDP.



However, with the increase in the rate of contagion, particularly among people aged 20-30, caused by the Delta variant, in early July the authorities were forced to impose a one-week curfew and ban the music in Mykonos. And two days ago, the minister of civil protection, Michalis Chrisochidois, said that it is only a matter of time before similar measures are imposed on Ios. "But now there is a danger that the island will be closed," he said after returning from a visit, reporting "fines" and announcing the dispatch of new police officers.