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190 coronavirus cases in Greece: Gov’t closes cafes, restaurants, malls

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases has reached 190, Greek health authorities announced on Friday and right away also more drastic measures: the closure of cafes, bars, restaurants, taverns, shopping malls, beauty centers, libraries.

Exempted from the closure in the gastronomy sector are deliveries and take away.

KTG understands that restaurants/grills can only offer delivery service. In Take Away only, there is provision that no more than 5 customers are standing in the queue. Also that the closure affects shopping malls but not retail stores.

Open remain pharmacies, supermarkets and food stores – later I read also open markets (laiki) -, as well as bakeries and sweets shops provided they do not offer the seat possibility to customers.

Gasoline stations, banks and private health centers remain open.

The measure goes into effect on Saturday, March 14, 2020.

The drastic new measures were needed not only because of the sharp increase of confirmed cases from 117 on Thursday to 190 on Friday.

But also because Greeks have been massively defying the advise to stay home, and thousands, taking advantage of the schools and universities closure, flocked to cafes and playgrounds to enjoy the sunny days.

An obviously upset health minister said during the press conference

“I had said we would take whatever measures were needed to protect our fellow men and women. Today we are expanding the measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. First because new cases have been recorded and second because the restrictive measures are not being followed, ” Vassilis Kikilias said.

“I will say again that we are fighting a battle that will be judged by who will show individual responsibility and collective consciousness.”

Spokesman Sotiris Tsiodras said that of the 190 cases -73 new – , 36 are under investigation for the contraction source. 11 are not linked to other cases and 9 of them are in Athens.

5 patients are in serious conditions and intubated.

47 patients are hospitalized.

So far, 2,700 coronavirus tests have been conducted, more than 1,000 in the last 48 hours.

From the 190 cases:

  • 47 are over 65
  • 79 are aged 40-64
  • 7 children aged 0-17

Geographically, the cases distribution is (list not complete!):

Athens 85 Ilia 40, Achaia 9, Thessaloniki 6, East Attica 5, Zakynthos 4, Kastoria 3, Crete 3.

A shopping mall in Marousi was closed Friday afternoon “because someone infected with the coronavirus visited the mall,” Alpha TV reported.

Among the patients on Crete is also a German guest professor recently traveled from Germany, media report.

The measures Friday afternoon, follow the closure of museums and archeological sites and the suspension of the Olympic Flame Torch Relay announced earlier, after Sparta authorities organized a huge fiesta with actor Gerard Butler.

Since last week, Greece has been imposing preventive measures step by step in an effort to take the spread under control in the sense avoiding a massive outbreak that could send thousands to the public hospitals and force the public health system to collapse.

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One comment

  1. #We will stay at home

    but
    We’ll come later