Lockdown extended for the village in Xanthi

The village of Echinos in the region of Xanthi, northern Greece, will continue to be on a strict lockdown for another five days (until June 30).

Echinos was placed on lockdown for the third time on June 18, following a spike in cases.

All shops will remain closed except pharmacies and supermarkets, while the use of a face mask will be compulsory in public.

The measures are in effect until 6 a.m. on June 30, when authorities will reassess the situation.

Earlier this week, a drive-through coronavirus testing station was set up in Xanthi to quickly, safely and conveniently test people for the novel virus.

Patients will drive through the site, wind down their windows and be tested directly out of the car window. The process takes longer than five minutes.

At the time of writing, Greece has recorded 3,321 confirmed coronavirus cases and 191 related deaths.

Meanwhile, all 198 blood samples taken by National Public Health Organisation staff at Korydallos prison tested negative for Covid-19, Greek authorities also announced on Thursday.

The samples were taken after a 35-year old inmate with coronavirus-like symptoms was found 'marginally positive' for coronavirus in a first test on Tuesday evening. Two later tests on the same patient both came back negative, however, calling off an alarm.

Blood samples were taken from individuals that had come into contact with the Greek-Armenian man, including other prison inmates and guards.