Mihalis Chrysohoidis

Citizen Protection Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis said that the government has not ruled out the possibility of an earlier curfew in Greece as a measure to stop the recent spike in new infections.

Asked on Wednesday if authorities are considering stopping all traffic at 6 p.m. instead of the current 9 p.m., the minister said "it is something we will see."

Citizen Protection Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis said the downtown district of Exarchia, where police has been conducting a series of raids to clear squats and arrest drug traffickers, will be "handed back to its residents" by the end of March.

The Greek government published on Friday a joint ministerial decision that outlines 12 countries that are considered safe to return failed asylum seekers, state-run news agency ANA-MPA reported.