ATHENS, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Greece's Health Ministry announced on Wednesday 31 new confirmed novel coronavirus infections with the total nationwide now reaching 418.
Currently there were hospitalized 79 patients, including 13 in intensive care, the ministry's spokesperson for the epidemic Sotirios Tsiodras, an infectious diseases expert, said during a regular press briefing.
Since Feb. 26 when Greece reported the first case in the country, five people have passed away and measures aimed to contain the spread have been gradually tightened.
As of Thursday the limit of people allowed to gather publicly declines to 10, Nikos Hardalias, Deputy Minister for Civil Protection and Crisis Management at the Ministry of Citizen Protection, told the same briefing. Those who will violate the measure face 1,000 euro (1,090 U.S dollars) fines.
The Greek authorities reiterated calls to citizens to leave their homes only to go to work, buy necessities, go to a doctor or the bank and the gas station and help people who need support.
Hardalias called on enterprises once again to shift to teleworking if possible or increase prevention measures for employees who need to be working in shifts.
So far Greece has shut down schools, universities, restaurants, cafes, shopping malls, gyms and cultural venues.
As of Wednesday all retail stores are also closing, with bakeries, supermarkets, pharmacies and gas stations remaining open.
Until the end of March also bans and restrictions have been introduced in air and sea connections with many countries.
As of Wednesday Greece has also banned entrance for non EU citizens, with exceptions strictly for urgent family or business reasons.
"The crisis lies before us. The next days, weeks and months will be difficult and we all must be extremely serious and responsible in the way that we address it," Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias said after his visit to the Chinese embassy on Wednesday, where the Chinese Ambassador Zhang Qiyue presented him with 50,000 masks donated by the Chinese community in Greece for the needs of Greece's National Health System.
Kikilias thanked the ambassador, the Chinese government and the Chinese community in Greece for their contribution. (1 euro= 1.09 U.S. dollars) Enditem
