Nikos Hardalias

The government has started planning a gradual loosening of restrictive measures possibly beginning at the end of April even as is preparing its game plan for stopping Greece from leaving Attica toward their ancestral homse and villages for Greek Orthodox Easter which falls on April 19.

As Greece enters its third week in lockdown, the first glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel has appeared, according to government spokesman Stelios Petsas, who told reporters on Monday that it is up to the people to remain responsible.

"It's up to us if we are to enjoy the first results in May of our responsible attitude by staying home in April," he told reporters Monday.

Greece's Health Ministry announced on Monday 20 new coronavirus infections, with the total now at 1,755.

In his regular press conference, ministry spokesman and infectious disease expert Sotiris Tsiodras said six more fatalities from Covid-19 were recorded over the past 24 hours raising the total to 79.

Nearly 70 Turkish nationals aboard a Greek cruise ship have been tested positive for COVID-19 and taken under treatment in the vessel off Greece's coast, Burak Özügergin, Turkish ambassador in Athens, told Hürriyet Daily News on April 5.

The health ministry's spokesman on issues pertaining to the coronavirus, Infectious Diseases Professor Sotiris Tsiodras said today that it is unlikely that public health measures to protect citizens will be made harsher, even as it was announced that the current partial lockdown will be extended through 27 April.

Greek Health Ministry representative Sotiris Tsiodras on Saturday announced 60 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 1,673. 

He also announced a rise in the death toll to 68 after nine hospital patients died. The average age of the dead is 74, he said. 

Another 92 patients remain in the intensive care units of Greek hospitals. 

Greek Health Ministry spokesman Sotiris Tsiodras on Friday announced 99 new coronavirus cases, raising the total in the country to 1,613.

He added that the death toll has risen to 59 with six more people in hospital passing away. The average age of the dead is 71 years, he said.

Five municipalities in northern Greece will be placed in lockdown as of Tuesday night, Civil Protection Deputy Minister for Crisis Management Nikos Hardalias has announced.

These are the municipal area of Mesopotamia in Kastoria, Orestida, Nestorio, Xanthi and Myki.

The Greek government is reportedly mulling the introduction of limits to the amount of time that people leave their homes so as to further curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus, Kathimerini understands.

Even though no official announcements have been made, the idea is reportedly gaining traction within the government as Easter approaches.

Residents in the northern port city of Thessaloniki can use the popular waterfront promenade from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday only, after authorities decided to impose a partial ban on the area.