- Title: Greeks head to beach as cafes, taverns, malls, shut down over virus
- Date: 14th March 2020
- Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (MARCH 14, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EMPTY CAFES AND RESTAURANTS IN ATHENS VARIOUS OF TAVERN ON THE BEACH EMPTY VARIOUS OF ACROPOLIS HILL AND MONUMENTS EMPTY OF PEOPLE VARIOUS OF TEMPLE OF ZEUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE EMPTY OF PEOPLE CAT SLEEPING ON A MARBLE AT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SUNBATHING, SWIMMING, SITTING AT THE BEACH VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ALONG PROMENADE ON BEACH (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) GREEK RESIDENT ROZOS APELIS SAYING: "I guess most people go because, they go to the beaches because, they can't catch the virus as easily there, it isn't as easy to (catch it) in open spaces, you aren't as affected by the virus." (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) GREEK RESIDENT VASSILIKI PAPAKONSTANTINOU SAYING: "Because it is an open space and the sea, I don't think we have a problem, I hope so at least, I am not a specialist, but people have to let off some energy somewhere. For now we are taking it with a bit of humour, but soon we will all start falling apart, I don't know how long people will be able to bear this situation." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ALONG THE PROMENADE AT THE BEACH IOANNINA, GREECE (MARCH 14, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WORKER IN WHITE SUIT, GLOVES, GOGGLES, DECONTAMINATING THE OFFICES OF THE PUBLIC POWER COMPANY (PPC), PPC LOGO ON WALL
- Embargoed: 28th March 2020 14:56
- Keywords: Greece cafes coronavirus restaurants
- Location: ATHENS AND IOANNINA, GREECE
- City: ATHENS AND IOANNINA, GREECE
- Country: Greece
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001C50X5XJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Some Greeks headed to the beach on Saturday (March 14) after the government imposed further measures to halt the impact of coronavirus.
People strolled on the promenade and dipped in the sea despite the cooler temperatures.
Cafes, restaurants, taverns, beauty parlours, bars and shopping malls were the latest to shut down on Saturday as part of the government measures.
In the last days the government has also closed museums, archaeological sites, courts, night-clubs, playgrounds, schools, universities, gyms and sporting events.
Authorities said pharmacies, bakeries and supermarkets would remain open, as well as banks, but there would be a limit to the number of customers entering at the same time.
"Because it is an open space and the sea, I don't think we have a problem, I hope so at least, I am not a specialist, but people have to let off some energy somewhere," said Vassiliki Papakonstantinou from a beach on the Athens coast.
Greece reported two more fatalities from coronavirus on Saturday, raising the total number of deaths in the country to three.
The deceased were two men, aged 67 and 90, both with serious underlying health problems, the health ministry said. There were 190 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Greece by late Friday.
Decontamination of various sites and public buildings continued across the country. All flights to and from Italy were cancelled.
(Production: Vassilis Triandafyllou, Deborah Kyvrikosaios, Stamos Prousalis) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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