<p>ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s government announced plans Friday to reopen the Acropolis in Athens and other ancient sites nationwide and provide free weekly rapid tests for COVID-19 for all the country’s residents as it prepares to restart the tourism season in mid-May.</p>
<p>The measures were announced despite an ongoing surge in daily infections to 20.9 per 100,000 residents, as a seven-day rolling average, with private hospital space being used by the state-run health service to cope with treatment demand. </p>
<p>Starting Saturday, a weekend curfew will be relaxed. It will be followed on Monday by a series of other measures including a limited opening of barbershops and hair salons, and ancient sites for people on brief outings. Museums will remain closed.</p>
<p>Free tests will be made available to all residents of Greece with a social security number before the end of the month, officials said.</p>
<p>“What we are talking about are pressure-release valves. This is to help people comply with restrictions that have been in effect for such a long time,” said Akis Skertsos, a deputy minister for government coordination.</p>
<p>The government says that despite the current surge, it expects to open to tourism, a key driver of the economy, in mid-May.</p>
<p>Lockdown measures have been in effect since early November.</p>
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