Greece imposes new measures to curb virus spread

The Greek government announced a series of new emergency measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus, amid a surge of cases.

Deputy government spokeswoman Aristotelia Peloni made the announcement at a press briefing on Monday:

• The 85th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), Greece's largest annual trade fair held in the northern port city, scheduled for September 5-13, is cancelled
• A negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours for travellers coming from Sweden, Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain and the Czech Republic as of August 17
• A negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours for all travellers entering Greece via the Promachonas border crossing with Bulgaria as of August 17
• A maximum of 750 people will be allowed to enter Greece per day through the Kakavia land border with Albania as of August 16
• All events that require the audience to stand, including performances and concerts, are suspended
• Until August 23, food or catering sector-related shops (restaurants, bars etc.) will have to close by midnight in several regions and islands including:
  • Regions: Crete, East Macedonia, Thrace
  • Regional units: Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, Larissa, Corfu
  • Municipalities of: Mykonos, Paros, Santorini, Volos, Katerini, Rhodes, Antiparos, Zakynthos, Kos

Greece reported its highest daily tally of coronavirus infections on Sunday, 203 cases, since the start of the outbreak.

Health Minister Vasilis Kikilias on Monday said that “Unfortunately, the transmission of the virus is increasing dangerously." He again called “on the young and those citizens who do not follow the basic measures of personal protection – masks, hygiene rules, safety distances – to consider their responsibilities towards vulnerable groups, the rest of our fellow citizens and the country."

On Monday, Greece recorded 126 new cases of COVID-19 in 24 hours. This raises the total number of cases to 5,749.

1,453 are considered to be related to travel from abroad and 2,795 are related to an already known case.

Of the new cases, 38 were identified in the Attica region and 18 in the Thessaloniki region.

Twenty-four individuals are in ICU. Their median age is 63 years, while a 58.3% has an underlying health condition or are aged 70 or over.

The country’s pandemic death toll remains at 213. The median age of all was 76 years and 95.8% had an underlying condition and/or was aged 70+.