Athens becomes a ghost town amid coronavirus outbreak

Coronavirus has transformed bustling Athens, the capital city of Greece, to a virtual ghost town.

Before the pandemic, Syntagma Square, Ermou street, Plaka, Stadiou Street, Monastiraki, Akadimia, Kolonaki and Panepistimiou Street, were flooded with people and cars. This scene is no longer available. Instead there is an unnatural feeling of concern, isolation and even fear.

The coronavirus pandemic and the government’s advice for people to stay indoors resulted in the capital being virtually empty of people and vehicles.

Watch a live camera footage of Ermou Street and Syntagma Square in Athens here.

According to the latest reports, there are 352 confirmed coronavirus cases in Greece.

The Ministry of Health spokesperson and infectious disease Professor Sotiris Tsiodras, stated that 51% of the cases are men most of which were located in Athens.

On Friday the Greek government decided to take stricter measures to tackle escalating coronavirus outbreak, shutting schools, bars, cafes, shopping malls, libraries, museums and archaeological sites for two weeks, to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Greece also adopted precautionary measures 'Μένουμε σπίτι' (Stay at home) to prevent the spread of coronavirus. This includes:
– staying at home
– avoiding meetings
– grandparents not looking after their grandchildren
– those who have symptoms to communicate with their doctor for instructions

Yesterday, the Greek government announced that anyone arriving from abroad, regardless of nationality, should place themselves into obligatory quarantine for 14 day.

*Image credits: Eurokinissi/Lydia Siori