Greek police officers, deployed on the streets of Thessaloniki, stop people traveling in their cars as the country enters a new partial lockdown and issues overnight curfews in eight regions.

Footage also shows empty streets, bars, and restaurants.

A man named Giannis, who appears in the video, says: "I can't understand the purpose of this new lockdown. I accept the temporary ban on bars and restaurants that do not comply with the COVID-19 measures, but I can't accept a whole overnight curfew extended to everyone. I can't".

He also adds: "This lockdown will push people to gather indoors. I do not think this measure will help contain the spread of the virus. A while ago, government officials said we will no longer need lockdowns because of vaccinations, so things should be completely different".

Many regions in Greece are facing near-lockdown conditions, particularly in the northern part of the country, because of the spread of the Delta variant and people refusing to get vaccinated.

Regions classified as red have imposed an overnight curfew from 1 to 6 am and a 24-hour ban on music at all entertainment venues, including bars and cafés.

Police checkpoints on the streets and shops closed after midnight as Greece has enforced new "partial lockdown" restrictions and overnight curfews in eight regions across the north. Many regions in Greece are facing near-lockdown conditions, particularly in northern as the Delta Variant – along with anti-vaxxers refusing shots and people ignoring health measures – has continued to spread the Coronavirus. Regions classified as red impose an overnight curfew from 1 to 6 a.m. – although this does not apply to people who have to travel for work or for health emergencies – and a 24-hour ban on music at all entertainment venues, including bars and cafes.

Giannis (timestamp 2:58)
"I can not really understand the purpose of this new lockdown. I accept the temporary ban on the operation of some bars-resturarnts that do not comply with the measures, but a whole overnight curfew for everyone, I can not figure out this. On the contrary, it will create the problem of crowding people in houses, we will gather many people indoors, I do not think that helps the spread of the virus. Government officials said a while ago that we no longer have the same loot and lockdowns as before because we now have been vaccinated, so things should be completely different.