The Greek government announced new measures to combat the spread of coronavirus on Monday, including the closure of shops as of Wednesday and the quarantine of all foreign visitors to the country for the duration of two weeks.
According to government spokesperson Aristotelia Peloni, shops will be summarily closed, excluding pharmacies, banks, supermarkets and gas stations.
All people arriving in Greece from abroad are to be required to self-isolate for fourteen days, she added.
Peloni revealed that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis asked the Head of the Greek Orthodox Church, Archibishop Ieronymos, to suspend Church services and only allow private prayer in churches.
The spokeswoman also dismissed suggestions that a nationwide lockdown is being considered.
Asked whether Prime Minister Mitsotakis has been tested for coronavirus, she said that he had, as had his family, and that he is negative.
The death toll from the coronavirus reached four and the number of cases jumped to 331 over the weekend.
On Sunday, Greece announced that it is closing off the country’s borders with Albania and North Macedonia and suspending ferry services with Italy in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Thousands of Greek citizens showed their gratitude to health personnel who are laboring on the frontlines of the coronavirus by applauding from their balconies on Sunday at 9 p.m.