Nikos Hardalias

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.

Patience is a crucial tool in the battle against the coronavirus health ministry spokesman Sotiris Tsiodras told a daily news conference today.

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"We will wait patiently, any prediction is uncertain," but he added that mathematical models currently show a slow spread.

Greek government expert and spokesman Sotiris Tsiodras on Monday confirmed that the death toll from Covid-19 in Greece has risen to 43 at regular press briefing on Monday, adding that new reported infections came to 56, down from Sunday's 95.

The village community of Echinos in the regional unit of Thrace, northern Greece, was placed on lockdown as of Wednesday afternoon after health authorities recorded an unusually high number of coronavirus infections.

Of 263 Greek nationals who have returned from Spain on two flights in recent days 21 have tested positive for the Coronavirus.

Most of the passengers came from Barcelona and some from Madrid.

The entire group is quarantined in an Athens hotel. All people who return from abroad are required to self-isolate for 14 days and authorities keep track of them.

Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias confirmed on Tuesday that of the 263 passengers that  returned from Madrid and Barcelona on Sunday and placed in isolation at a central Athens hotel, 21 have tested positive for Covid-19.

The possibility of a lockdown appears ever more likely, as many Greeks insist on treating the present quarantine measures as a sort of vacation, crowding open spaces and exiting Athens en masse to go to their ancestral villages, just as the death toll on Sunday rose to 15 and the number of confirmed infections to 624.

With the next two weeks deemed to be critical as regards the spread of the coronavirus, or Covid-19, the government has made it clear that it will take all necessary measures to contain it, with the possibility of a full lockdown being considered.

As the death toll from the new coronavirus rose to eight and the number of infections to 495 on Friday, the government announced fresh measures to protect the public from the rapidly spreading epidemic.