Coronavirus has infected 2,224 people in Greece as of April 18. Greece has now banned all public gatherings of 10 people or more as the EU votes in support of closing entry to non-EU citizens. Express.co.uk looks into which regions are worst hit by the virus.
Coronavirus is now officially pandemic according to the World Health Organization.
This means the disease has spread between people in multiple countries across the globe at the same time.
The last official pandemic hit in 2009 when swine flu rapidly spread around the globe.
The global death toll for coronavirus currently stands at 154,311.
READ MORE
-
EU facing economic disaster with two countries at centre of nightmare
How bad is the coronavirus outbreak in Greece?
Coronavirus hit Greece on February 26, when a woman, 38, who had recently visited northern Italy tested positive for the virus.
Since then, more than 2,200 people have tested positive.
The government has now activated its confidential Artemis plan to tackle COVID-19.
The first stage of this plan was enacted on Thursday with a two-week closure of all theatres, courthouses, cinemas, gyms and playgrounds was announced.
Before this plan was put into effect, the Hellenic Ministry of Health took the following action to slow the spread of the virus, including:
- A nationwide suspension of the operation of all Open Care Centers for the Elderly for four weeks.
- No conferences will be held in the country for four weeks.
- All school trips are banned, as well as all sports games to be played with no fans attending and all school championships cancelled.
- All schools are closed for 14 days.
DON’T MISS
Hand washing songs: The best 20 second hand washing songs for adults [INSIGHT]
Coronavirus USA map: The top regions in US struck down by killer virus [EXPLAINER]
Travel ban: Can I still go on holiday to the USA? What Trump ban means [MAP]
READ MORE
- Greece: EU told to help as refugee crisis at ‘critical point’
The Artemis plan will also see a crisis management mechanism activated by the Attica Police Headquarters, the Fire Brigade Coordination Center and the Greek Police.
A pool of 150 specially trained officers wil staff the Attica Police Headquarters and will be tasked with tracking and identifying people who have come into contact with confirmed cases and executing quarantine measures.
The Fire Brigade Coordination Center will see 70 officers, who have attended a special training program in recent weeks, provide instructions for quarantine compliance.
Depending on the location of cases, the General Secretariat for Civil Protection will be able to launch plans to establish and if needed, outdoor or floating hospitals in areas where patients exceed the capacity of intensive care units.
The Greek police have made 127 arrests for violations of measures to prevent and contain the spread of the deadly disease.
Initial cases in Italy were connected to people who travelled to Italy, but most of the more recent cases concern a group of pilgrims who travelled to Israel and Egypt, as well as their contacts.
Greece used drones to stop crowds gathering for Orthodox Easter.
The country has extended its temporary suspension of flights to Italy, Turkey, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and vice versa, until May 15.
The main areas affected by coronavirus are in Attica and Ilia.
But outbreaks have also been reported in:
- Zakynthos
- Achaia
- Thessaloniki
- Euboea
- Kozani
- Kastoria
- Heraklion
- Ioannina
- Larisa
- Pieria.
Source: Read Full Article