Greece will impose a two-week lockdown in the regions of Thessaloniki and Serres in the north to contain a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, government spokesman, Stelios Petsas, said on Monday.
“The Prime Minister spoke on the phone with Health Minister, Vassilis Kikilias, and decided to impose a local lockdown in the regions of Thessaloniki and Serres from 6.00am on Tuesday for the next 15 days,” Petsas said.
Kikilias, who visited Thessaloniki on Monday, said that “the epidemic is spreading rapidly in Thessaloniki,” stressing that some people who do not abide by the restrictions are risking the lives of many.
“I understand,” the Health Minister said, “the stress and fatigue some may experience, but public health is above all.”
READ MORE: Greece tightens coronavirus curbs in Athens as infections surge.
The latest measures include the suspension of flights to and from Thessaloniki over the two-week period, along with the expansion of a night-time curfew on movement.
SMS messages for movement outside the home have been re-introduced, while churches, bars, restaurants, cinemas, theatres and most retail shops will be shut down for one month.
Greece has reported fewer cases of the coronavirus than most in Europe, but it has seen a significant increase in infections since early October.
On Monday, Greek health authorities announced 1,152 new cases of coronavirus in the country, raising the total number to 42,080.
