In a carefully staged re-opening that began several weeks ago, various parts of the Greek economy have been staged to open, including schools, churches and other institutions.

Today marked the return of the restaurant establishment as well as ferry boat services that connect Athens with the Greek islands.

Greek authorities allowed cafes and restaurants to reopen on Monday as part of their science-based gradual lifting of coronavirus restrictions.

All food and beverage establishments have been given extensive re-opening instructions to protect workers, as well as guests.

Travel to the islands resumed with passenger ferries operating at 50% capacity as Greece prepares to re-open year-round hotels on June 1.

Seasonal hotels will open on June 15, when some direct international flights from the Athens international airport will also resume.

Greece has managed to contain the spread of COVID-19 infections to just 2,878 cases and 171 deaths — some of the lowest numbers in the world compared with similarly-sized nations.

Greece imposed an early lockdown in March — even before the first death was reported — and created a nationwide plan that protected citizens from the spread of the virus.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis celebrated the re-opening of restaurants and coffee shops with an elbow-bumping stroll through the streets of Pireaus.