No plan to tighten Covid-related restrictions in Thessaloniki, says minister
![No plan to tighten Covid-related restrictions in Thessaloniki, says minister](https://www.ekathimerini.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/xardalias-17-768x480jpgpagespeedcekm03vcpeyn.jpg)
The Greek government has no immediate plan to further tighten restrictions related to the pandemic in Thessaloniki, Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias said on Thursday, during a meeting with local officials in the city.
Greece’s second biggest city has seen a rise in infections in recent days.
“There is no panicking…there is no question of tightening measures, there is a question of strict observance of the existing ones,” he said.
Speaking at the same meeting, Citizens' Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis said the government wants to a repeat of the major outbreak in Thessaloniki similar to the one in November 2020, when a surge in coronavirus infections pushed the hospital system to its limits.
The minister said there is an “increase” of infections in the city, not a an “outbreak” and the meeting in Thessaloniki aimed at preventing it.