As
of 6pm, local time, Athens:
#
of confirmed cases: 821 (78 new cases since yesterday)
#
of deaths: 22
#
of people in hospital: 134
#
of people tested: 10,000
Day
17 of staying home
In
today’s 6pm live press briefing Health Ministry spokesman Sotiris Tsiodras and
Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias made more announcements. Some
are summarized below.
Today
Tsiodras focused on how important it is for everyone to take
precautions, and especially for people in high-risk groups.
He
gave specific instructions to people who may be sick at home (presumed
positive), and to those caring for the sick. Again he underlined that people with
mild symptoms should be in touch with their doctors on a daily basis.
Hardalias
announced that a state of emergency has been declared for a village in northern
Greece, Echinou, near Xanthi. In recent days, nine people from this community
have tested positive, and one resident has died. The entire community is to
remain indoors for the next two weeks (until April 7) and authorities will be
supplying them with necessities and medical attention.
In
addition, since the ban on movement began on Monday, police across Greece have fined
1,795 people who were not complying with the new rules. The fine is €150 and money
raised from fines will be used to fund hospitals with necessary equipment.
***
Today
is March 25, Greek Independence Day. Normally there are parades in every corner
of Greece, large and small. Today, there were no parades. The weather in Athens
has changed and it’s grey, dismal, cold and very windy. People have put flags
on their balconies, ours has been whipping in the wind all day long.
There
was a small ceremony today at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to mark the occasion.
It was odd to see empty streets, no crowds. The military band, reduced in size,
stood apart from one another, like human chess pieces on a giant chess board. Greece’s
first woman president, Katerina Sakellaropoulou placed a wreath on the tomb,
the band played the national anthem in the background, the sound almost drowned
out by the military aircraft passing overhead. No one shook hands, everyone
stood away from each other. There were no statements or speeches or cries of ζήτω! Long
live Greece!
It
was all rather surreal and solemn. Watch the video here.
 |
| χρονια πολλα! Happy Greek Independence Day! |
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