Nea Propontida

The national highway connecting the northern port city of Thessaloniki to Moudania, Halkidiki will remain closed until 8 p.m. on Sunday as farmers escalate their protests.

Farmers initiated the blockade around 1.30 p.m. at the Moudania junction, blocking both directions of the highway.

Greece's coronavirus toll has risen to 81 with the death of a 42-year-old man in the northern port city of Thessaloniki and of an 84-year-old woman in Athens.

According to reports, the 42-year-old man died at Thessaloniki's AHEPA General Hospital on Monday night after being admitted on March 29. He is the virus' first victim from the region of Halkidiki.

Efforts continued on Friday to restore power to all parts of Halkidiki as state officials continued their assessments of a freak storm that killed seven people and injured scores more.  

Construction will be able to take place on a beach in Katerini, northern Greece, the government decided on Thursday despite the European Commission chiding Athens two years ago over damage to the environment caused by building activity in the area.