Greece’s Civil Protection Deputy Minister for Crisis Management Nikos Hardalias and the Health Ministry's spokesman on novel coronavirus Professor Sotiris Tsiodras, on Thursday reported 71 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Greece in the last 24 hours, and 3 new deaths.
During the daily update, Professor Tsiodras said that Covid-19 infections total in Greece stands at 1,955 out of which 518 were infected abroad and 734 in Greece.
Deaths total 86 since the start of the outbreak, of whom 86% had underlying health issues or their average age was 70 or over.
Some 79 patients are being treated in Intensive Care Units. The average age of these patients is 67 years, 16 of these are men, while a 77% of all ICU patients have underlying health issues or are at least 70 years of age.
So far 33,634 diagnostic lab tests for Covid-19 have been carried out nationwide.
Civil Protection Deputy Minister for Crisis Management Nikos Hardalias added that the Church of Greece has contributed decisively to the fight against the spread of infection, "acting with a great sense of responsibility and courage" and following state decisions and ahead of Greek Orthodox Easter Week.
Hardalias also referred to the Church of Greece's press spokesperson, the Metropolitan of Nafpaktos, who said that all churches will be open during Easter week only at specific times and only for the priests and the absolute staff of two. Both emphasised the fact that churches will be shut to the public.
Earlier decisions have clarified, for all religions practised in Greece, that services will be held only behind closed doors by a maximum of four people including the religious official. Several are expected to be live-streamed on TV and the internet or broadcast by radio.
Hardalias also spoke of the regular flights still operating and the people arriving in Greece on them. He said all passengers coming into Greece are being tested at hotels near the airports and if found positive are required to stay at the hotels for 14 days.
