Griekenland heeft kordate en verstrekkende maatregelen genomen om het Corona-virus het hoofd te bieden. Vanaf maandag 23 maart is een lockdown van kracht; in de loop van de laatste twee weken werden al bijeenkomsten verboden, scholen, universiteiten, bibliotheken, horeca en ‘ niet-essentiële’ winkels gesloten. Thuiswerken wanneer dat kan is van harte aangeraden, en dat doen wij dan ook. Het NIA is al vanaf 8 maart gesloten, sinds het einde van de cursus ‘European Policies’. De meeste maatregelen lopen tot eind april; het instituut zal dus zeker tot 2 mei gesloten blijven. De U4-winterschool en de NWIB Zomerschool 2020 “Dynamisch erfgoed – de stad in beweging” zijn afgelast en de cursussen ‘Athens, cradle of civilization?’, ‘The Connecting Sea’ en de workshop ‘Conservation and Physicochemical Study of Metal Artifacts’ zijn vooralsnog uitgesteld, net als de Annual meeting en het verblijf van bursalen. Helaas is het verloop van de pandemie niet te voorspellen, zodat we niet kunnen zeggen of de cursussen en activiteiten die voor mei-juli op de agenda staan plaats kunnen vinden.
Blijf gezond, blijf binnen, houd anderhalve meter afstand; wij hopen jullie snel weer in goede gezondheid te kunnen verwelkomen!
Dear friends of the Netherlands Institute at Athens,
Following our previous message some more information about the situation in Greece and its consequences for the Institute.
Greece has taken stern measures to curb the Corona pandemic. From today, Monday 23 March, a lockdown has been announced. We are not allowed to go outside anymore unless there is a pressing reason. For this, you need to have a filled-in form if you leave the house. Buying foodstuff, exercising, walking the dog and helping the sick and elderly are valid reasons. Fortunately, the form can also be submitted through an sms. Work is limited to the essentials: retailers of foodstuff, medicine and other critical supplies are allowed to stay open, the rest is to close down. Bars, restaurants, schools, universities and libraries were already closed a week and a half ago. Even church services are forbidden. There is a 14-day quarantaine for someone entering the country, and the borders to an increasing number of destinations are being closed. Further measures appear almost every day.
The institute essentially closed down after the European Policies course, which finished the 8th of March. Now we work from home, visiting Makri 11 only when necessary. We can still be reached by telephone and e-mail. Since most measures continue until the end of April, after Greek Easter, the institute will stay closed at least until 2 May. The U4-winterschool, the courses ‘Athens, cradle of civilization?’ , ‘The Connecting Sea’ and the workshop ‘Conservation and Physicochemical Study of Metal Artifacts’ are postponed, as will the Annual Meeting and the stays of students receiving grants. Unfortunately the situation and the run of the pandemic is as yet so unclear that we cannot give alternative dates, and unfortunately we also cannot predict what will happen to the courses and activities planned for May to July.
Stay safe, stay in, and we hope to see you all again in good health!
