‘State of alert’ amid rise in infections

Amid concerns about a steady increase in coronavirus infections in the country, government officials on Monday signified their readiness to intensify restrictions. Meanwhile experts are concerned about a spike in new cases over the past two weeks, to 6.1 per 100,000 people from 4.2 per 100,000.

They believe they should have a clearer picture of the extent to which new cases have contributed to community transmission of the pandemic by mid-August. 

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis noted that a second full public lockdown was not something the Greek economy, nor other European economies, could withstand. "We are in a phase where all European countries must remain in a heightened state of alert over the next few months, at least until a vaccine for the coronavirus is found," Mitsotakis said ahead of talks in Athens with Armin Laschet, premier of North Rhine-Westphalia....