Music has been banned in restaurants and bars on the Greek island of Mykonos and a night-time curfew imposed after a surge in coronavirus cases.

Greece’s Civil Protection Ministry said the round-the-clock ban on music included shops, cafes and beach bars.

Under the curfew, only those going to and from work or to hospital will be allowed out between 1am and 6am.

The measures were prompted by a “worrying” rise in local COVID infections, but the island’s mayor, Konstantinos Koukas, said imposing measures at the heart of the tourism season was “unfair” and “misguided.”

He wrote on Facebook: “Mykonos cannot be the only island where music won’t be heard… the only thing this will achieve is that visitors will go to another island.”

The ministry said in a statement: “We call on the residents, visitors and professionals on our beautiful island to strictly follow the measures… so that we can quickly control and contain the spreading of the virus and Mykonos can return to normality.”

Known as the party island of the super-rich, Mykonos is one of Greece’s most popular destinations, attracting more than a million visitors each summer, among them Hollywood stars, models and world-famous athletes.

Greece, which is currently on the UK’s amber travel list, depends on tourism for 20% of its economy.

It desperately needs a strong season this year following a disastrous 2020 when visitor numbers and revenues

Among those who may be disappointed by the news of the music ban and curfew are several England footballers.

Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Kyle Walker and Declan Rice have been filmed together singing along to Neil Diamond’s hit Sweet Caroline while holidaying on the island after Euro 2020.

The video, which appeared on social media, showed Walker swinging his shirt around as he danced, while the others were sitting at a table at a restaurant.

The Three Lions lost 3-2 on penalties to Italy in Sunday’s final at Wembley.

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