Greece's COVID-19 woes continue

The Greek government announced Friday that a stricter curfew would be imposed in Attica, Thessaloniki and Halkidiki in the wake of a recent surge in COVID-19 infections.

All confirmed COVID-19 infections since the pandemics first case in Greece total 162,107. Of these, 6,010 are linked to travel abroad and 51,438 to already known cases.

Daily infections this week quadrupled, raising the question of health experts and prompting the government to take further steps to control the rise.

Beginning Saturday and for the next 10 days, a curfew from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. will be imposed on weekends in the three regions, Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias said at a news conference.

Greece currently has a curfew until 9 p.m.

The stores allowed to remain open on weekends in the three regions will be supermarkets, grocery stores, bakeries, gas stations and pharmacies.

They will operate from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All other days retail shops will operate on the click-away system that allows customers to pick up items online or by phone and will close at 8 p.m.

High schools will be closed in the regions but classes will continue online.

Greece recorded 1,195 more infections on Friday, bringing the total to 162,107 since the start of the pandemic.

Of the new infections, 558 were recorded in Attica region and 150 in Thessaloniki.

Nineteen people died in the last 24 hours, bringing the number of deaths to 5,922.

As for COVID-19 vaccinations:

• 20,413 vaccinations today (380,136 in total)
• 1st dose: 15,182 (306,441 in total)
• 2nd dose: 5,231 (73,695 in total)

2.86% of the Greek population has been vaccinated at least once (0.69% has taken 2nd dose).

READ MORE: Greek holidays possible this year for vaccinated countries.