The number of new infections announced by Greek health authorities hit a new high on Wednesday reaching 865, pushing the total number to 27,334.
Of these new cases, 44 were reported at the country’s entry points, the National Organisation for Public Health (EODY) said in its daily bulletin.
The data showed six more patients died from COVID-19, raising the total number of fatalities to 534.
The total number of intubated patients was 86, while 265 have left ICU.
EODY also said that authorities have conducted 1,588,713 PCR tests and 41,827 rapid antigen tests since the start of the epidemic in Greece.
Second northern region to enter lockdown on Friday:
A local lockdown will be imposed in the northern region of Kastoria, western Macedonia, on Friday after the surge in infections.
The announcement came at an emergency press briefing by Deputy Civil Protection Minister, Nikos Hardalias, on Wednesday.
Kastoria will become the second city categorised as level 4, or red, in a tiered system ranking the level of transmission of coronavirus and the potential for its spread, after Kozani.
This means citizens will have to wear face masks everywhere, public and private gatherings will be banned, as well as travel outside the region. Shops, gyms, courts, restaurants, cinemas, museums and archaeological sites will close.
Hardalias also said that the regions of Thessaloniki, Viotia, Larisa, Serres will be categorised as level 3. Ioannina remains in category 3.
“The next few days will be crucial in our efforts to halt the pandemic,” Mr Hardalias said at the briefing and urged citizens in these regions to remain vigilant.
Source: Ekathimerini.
