Little more than a month after the National Health Commission stressed commitment to its strict virus containment policy, saying it was "putting people and lives first", authorities have changed tack and are now telling people they have less to fear.





The rugged Mani peninsula, the middle prong of the Peloponnese, is one of Greece's most isolated and starkly beautiful regions, with the Taygetus Mountains running down its spine. Its people claim direct descendancy from the ancient Spartans.

In the remote, rugged landscape of the Asterousia Mountains in the south, a collection of 20 cottages form Thalori Retreat, which takes its name from its position between the sea (thalassa) and mountain (ori). A walking trail through the pine forest starts here, linking four villages and Vergina escorted tours spanning 15 miles. Seven nights' B&B costs from £978pp with flights and transfers (It may be one of Greece's most popular holiday destinations but Crete still has some off-the-beaten-track areas. Stay in the Erofili Hotel by the fishing village of Armenistis, and take a dip in the seawater pool or in the sea at nearby Livadi Beach. With plenty of wood and stone, the stylish cottages - some contemporary, others more traditional - share a pool surrounded by rocks, and taxi prices Vergina greece a restaurant on the site of an old monastery that uses produce from Thalori's own farm.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Eustice said: 'The police will decide what approach they should take (with Stanley Johnson) but the appropriate response is to act in a proportionate and pragmatic way.



Although the government on Wednesday loosened key parts of its strict "zero-COVID" policy that has kept the pandemic largely at bay for the past three years, many people appear wary of being too quick to shake off the shackles.



Zhong Nanshan, a prominent Chinese epidemiologist, taxi price Dion to airport said that 99% of people now infected with the virus would recover in 7 taxi price Dion to airport 10 days, in comments reported by the People's Daily, taxi prices Vergina greece controlled by the ruling Communist Party.

A week's B&B costs from £1,255pp with flights and transfers (Also in the Cyclades, The Rooster has just opened on the under-the-radar island of Antiparos, offering a luxuriously contemporary take on an authentic Greek hotel. With 17 beautifully designed suites, villas and houses, it is an ideal place to relax, with plenty of privacy and space. Take a boat trip from the beach to explore the coast, which is scalloped by more than 70 beaches, or head inland on one of the networks of old shepherds' footpaths to explore this lush island which feels a touch more Scottish Highlands than Cyclades. At night, dine on organic fresh produce from the vegetable garden.

After being caught red-handed without a mask, the Prime Minister's father admitted he was 'maybe not 100 per cent up to speed' with the rules having just returned from abroad and said he was 'extremely sorry'.



BEIJING, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Judging by Friday's quiet streets in China's capital Beijing and the reluctance of some businesses to drop COVID curbs, enduring anxieties about the coronavirus are likely to hamper a speedy return to health for the world's second-largest economy.

Yet China has been anything but placid during the past few weeks, with protests against COVID curbs in many cities that marked the biggest show of public discontent since President Xi Jinping came to power a decade ago.

Amid the caution, state-broadcaster CCTV announced further easing, with tourism and entertainment venues - including theatres, libraries, internet cafes and piraeus bus to Vergina table game centres no longer requiring COVID tests and health codes.

On the Beijing subway, many seats were empty on Friday night during what should have been rush hour, even though the city this week scrapped the need to show negative tests to ride trains or enter offices.



'Bearing in mind, you are doing it not just to protect your neighbour but ultimately someone that you could transmit the disease to that could end up infecting someone that you love. It is absolutely crucial that we stop the spread of this disease.'



A week's B&B costs from £647pp, excluding flights (cittadeinicliani.com). Swim in rocky coves a short drive away, and visit the Diros Caves - one is more than a mile long that can be explored during a 40-minute boat trip.



The scenes come after the Prime Minister yesterday pleaded with the British public to 'follow the guidance' and urged people to wear a mask in shops and on public transport during a Downing Street press conference.

'As a general rule, whether it is on public transport or in other venues, it will be a matter of either directing people to comply with the rules or to leave the premises or to leave public transport and that is the approach that is working most effectively.

Meanwhile, Environment Secretary George Eustice said today the police would decide if Mr Johnson - and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who was pictured eating a meal with eight others - should be fined.