Greece reported 27 new coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour reporting period, of which 9 are from incoming travellers.
In more detail:
- 4 were identified after checks at the country’s entrance gates
- 5 other imported cases (who voluntarily got tested after showing symptoms)
- 8 cases in Attica
- 5 cases in Thessaloniki
- 1 case in Paros
- 2 cases in Grevena
- 1 case in Kastoria
- 1 case in Xanthi
This raises the total number of cases to 3,910, of whom 54.7% are men.
Of these, 1,051 are related to travel abroad, 2,024 to a known case and the rest are of indeterminate cause.
*Developing news- One case has been recorded in Mykonos.
Since Greece opened to international travellers, infections rose to 449 in the period July 1-15, compared to 300 in June.
No new deaths have been recorded in the last 8 days. The number of fatalities currently stands at 193.
The median age of the deceased was 76 years, and most had underlying issues.
According to the Health Ministry, a total of 391,773 tests have been conducted since beginning of the year.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Ministers at Maximos Mansion on Wednesday to discuss ways to intensify checks and further enforce existing measures against the novel coronavirus.
The Greek PM explicitly reiterated and requested that the current set of safety measures "be intensified without discount," and he underlined two key areas this should be pursued in: the country's areas most active with tourism and the protection of sector workers there, and the avoidance of overcrowding at all times, anywhere, but especially in enclosed establishments.
Moreover, he pointed out that municipalities and regions must also play their role in the maximum enforcement of all measures.
"We have to send a clear message: to avoid facing a possible second wave, we have to ensure that what we have set as the absolutely necessary, minimum conditions that protect public health, are met," said Mitsotakis.
He then noted that health authorities' inspections at bars and night clubs revealed excessive crowding of customers, a phenomenon far removed from the desired effect, he stressed, and mentioned that imposing strict fines in any such case will be pursued "without discount."
Calling on all local government authorities to better supervise and regulate all areas in question, "as controls are carried out and administrative fines are prescribed," he added that all these authorities are "partners in the national, collective effort" to minimize the spread of the novel coronavirus.
It was also clarified that by 'enclosed spaces' it is also meant that even the long-distance national coach service (KTEL) will see more checks, and the PM called on all participants to prioritize checks where they are due across the spectrum of outdoor and indoor establishments, businesses and all relevant spaces, including means of transportation.
The meeting was attended by Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis, Interior Minister Takis Theodorikakos, Shipping and Island Policy Minister Yiannis Plakiotakis, State Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, Deputy Development Minister Nikos Papathanassis, Deputy Civil Protection and Crises Management Minister Nikos Hardalias, Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister for Coordination of the Government's Work Akis Skertsos and government spokesperson Stelios Petsas, in addition to a number of ministry general secretaries, the head of the National Authority for Transparency Angelos Binis, Hellenic Police Chief Michail Karamalakis and Coast Guard Chief Theodoros Kliaris.
