On February 26, the first Coronavirus case confirmed in Greece. The rapid spread of the virus could not but affect my country.
After a decade of economic crisis and as the future of the Greek economy had finally started to brighten up, the country had suddenly been at risk of the Coronavirus outbreak. According to health’s sector, the terrible state of affairs and the aged country’s population should had been nothing less than a disaster.
On March 10, schools and universities nationwide were closed and Prime Minister addressed next day on Coronavirus threat.
The most of Greeks observed by unprecedented consistency the government’s early restrictive measures but a full lock down had to be implemented on 23th of March.
I have been living in Athens for more than a decade and I have been experienced the economic crisis, the social unrest, the constant traffic, the noise and the fast-paced life imposed on us by the capital. But I had never came across the empty avenues, the deserted squares, the closed churches and shops.
Everything changed in our life from one day to another. New situations made up by the new reality such as social distancing rules, the closed for the public churches and the Orthodox Easter weekend’s celebrations away from our homeland and families. Also habits like exercise and walk a pet at the centre of Athens established.
Despite the uncertain future, people I met with were peaceful, optimistic and talking about trust, a meaning that had been lost during the financial crisis years. As you see, the government’s early steps to contain the virus had been effective and the new Coronavirus cases had been steady decline and the tall of deaths is still be very law.
It seems after a long time ago that something great had been achieved so far in Greece but what is going to be next, how much Greece’s already struggling economy will be affected by the Coronavirus crisis?
