国际英语新闻:Greece announces further measures to contain COVID-19

ATHENS, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Greek government announced on Monday further measures to stem the spread of the COVID-19, including an immediate 14-day self-isolation requirement on all people from abroad and closure of all retail stores from Wednesday.

Alternate government spokesperson Aristotelia Peloni made the announcement at a press briefing, which was held online for first time.

Gas stations will remain open as well as super markets, pharmacies and banks, which have introduced restrictions in the number of customers allowed in an indoor space at any time as part of prevention measures, Peloni noted.

She dismissed rumors of a universal ban of all circulation as unfounded.

"The next month will be very tough. What is needed first of all is to contain the virus spread to give time to the health system to cope so that vulnerable groups and whoever needs to get hospitalized can receive the needed care," she said.

Peloni replaced government spokesperson Stelios Petsas who is in quarantine at home after his wife tested positive for the coronavirus.

Also on Monday, Greece confirmed 21 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 352 up from 331 a day earlier.

The number includes four fatalities and 65 people hospitalized, with nine in serious condition, Greek Health Ministry spokesperson for the novel coronavirus epidemic Sotirios Tsiodras told a regular press briefing.

"Most confirmed cases are in Athens, while a total of 4,320 samples have been tested so far in laboratories for the novel coronavirus," he said.

"We will do whatever is needed to safeguard public health with all possible measures," said Nikos Hardalias, who was sworn in on Monday as Deputy Minister for Civil Protection and Crises Management at the Ministry of Citizen Protection.

The residents of two villages near the city of Kozani in northern Greece will be in quarantine for the next 14 days, he announced. One of the victims was from this region.

Since the first case was diagnosed in Greece in Feb. 26, authorities have gradually closed schools, universities, shopping malls, gyms, restaurants, cafeterias, libraries, theaters, cinemas etc.

Greek police have detained at least 127 people over violations of the measures since last week, according to the citizen protection ministry.