Greece to go into coronavirus-induced lockdown

All nonessential transport and movement of people will be prohibited from Monday morning, PM says.

The Greek government announced a total lockdown in the country starting Monday morning, as coronavirus cases continue to rise.

As of 6 a.m., all nonessential transport and movement of people will be prohibited, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a televised address.

Greeks will only be allowed to go to work, to buy food or medicine, visit a doctor, walk a pet, exercise by themselves or in groups of two. They must carry an ID, and the reason for their movements has to be confirmed by their employer or by themselves.

Mitsotakis said this step “must be taken on time, so it is not taken in vain.

“In Italy unfortunately, one person is lost every two minutes … We must not reach the point where we choose who will live and who will be lost.”

Greece has 624 confirmed cases, with 15 deaths from COVID-19 so far, according to Greek authorities.