- Title: Greece imposes lockdown after coronavirus infections jump
- Date: 22nd March 2020
- Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (MARCH 22, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FEW CARS PASSING ON USUALLY BUSY ATHENS STREETS, SIDEWALKS EMPTY SAVE FOR A FEW PEOPLE WALKING
- Embargoed: 5th April 2020 19:23
- Keywords: Greece Mitsotakis curfew permit
- Location: ATHENS, GREECE
- City: ATHENS, GREECE
- Country: Greece
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001C64W2FB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Greece announced a lockdown on Sunday (March 22), restricting movement from Monday morning to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a televised address that movement would be restricted from 6:00 a.m. (4:00 GMT) as of Monday.
Mitsotakis said it was in the "name of the common good" and his duty to prevent the same tragedy that was taking place in Italy.
Greece confirmed 94 new cases on Sunday, its largest single-day jump, taking its total to 624, with 15 deaths, up by two.
On Saturday (March 21) police cars drove through the capital making a public service announcement in several languages advising people to stay at home.
Only those going to or returning from work, shopping for food or medicines or visiting a doctor will be allowed onto the streets from Monday. Individual physical exercise will also be allowed. People will be required to carry a special form or face a 150 euro fine.
Greece acted fast in the last weeks to close schools, gyms, cinemas, restaurants, bars, night-clubs, shops, hotels, museums and archaeological sites. Public gatherings were restricted to 10 people.
Greeks have for the most part heeded the government's call to stay home and practice social distancing, but some opted to flee to the islands or head to their countryside homes, defying official warnings of contagion risks.
This prompted the government to ban such trips on ferries and allow them only for island residents.
(Production: Vassilis Triandafyllou, Deborah Kyvrikosaios) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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