Health expert returns to warn against complacency as infections jump to 121

The Health Ministry's top scientific adviser on coronavirus warned Greeks on Tuesday that they must remain vigilant to prevent infections from getting out of hand, after health authorities confirmed 121 new cases in the last 24 hours, the largest number since April 22.

In his first and exceptional appearance in a televised briefing since May 26, infectious diseases expert Sotiris Tsiodras said the jump in infections is due to wider testing and the arrival of tourists and the increase in people's movement, but most infections detected are domestic.

He also announced that the the coronavirus reproduction number R in Greece now stands at 1.

"Great vigilance is needed for any exponential increase [of infections] so that things do not spiral out of control," he told journalists, adding that one positive element is the still small number of patients treated in...