Greeks escape lockdown for the beach as winter temperatures soar

Greeks headed to beaches and public parks on Sunday as a rare January heat wave offered a respite from the coronavirus lockdown that has thrown life across Europe into disarray.

With temperatures in Athens set to reach 23 Celsius (73.4 Fahrenheit), people lounged on the sand, swam in the sea, and strolled on the promenade on the Athens coast, while police patrolled to control the crowds.

In the last 50 years, such high temperatures for January have been seen only twice: in 1987 and 2010, the National Observatory of Athens said.

"It is not normal. This time last year it was cold," said 65-year old Kyriakos Pitoulis. "On the other hand, it helps because people are cooped up at home and they want to go somewhere to let off steam. They cannot stay home all the time."

Greece has been in partial lockdown since early November with people forced to wear masks in...