Prime Minister makes televised appearance to assuage fears over coronavirus spread

Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made a televised public announcement on Wednesday, to assuage fears created by the spread of the coronavirus by announcing government initiatives to contain and manage the situation.

Mitsotakis said that his government will do its best "ensure that the serious cases of coronavirus are few and far between."

"We have already done what is necessary to protect public health," Mitsotakis said, adding that "all public and private sectors are called upon to collaborate" to fight the epidemic, which the World Health Organisation today upgraded to a pandemic.

The Prime Minister said that as of Wednesday, working parents were entitled to a special leave from but he also said that "no mass measure can replace personal responsibility."

In reference to religious gatherings, the Prime Minister said that we "don't want to harm ourselves and our loved ones. Personally, I have felt the need to call upon my faith, but as a Prime Minister I am obligated to listen to specialists and scientists. Whatever is valid for public gatherings also relates to churches as well."

What Greece needs right now, he said, is "the faith to overcome this crisis - as long as we follow closely the directions of doctors and specialists."