Greece tightens COVID-19 lockdown, shuts primary schools

FILE PHOTO: A teacher explains to pupils how to use masks against the spread of the new coronavirus, at a primary school during the first day after summer holidays amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Athens, Greece, September 14, 2020. Thanassis Stavrakis/Pool via REUTERS

Greek authorities announced on Saturday the closure of nurseries and primary schools until the end of November, tightening a nationwide lockdown after a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Greece has fared better than many other European countries in tackling the coronavirus, mainly due to an early nationwide lockdown imposed weeks after the pandemic broke out in February.

A gradual increase in infections since early October has forced authorities to reimpose restrictions and order a second nationwide lockdown, which expires at the end of November and includes a night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am.

FILE PHOTO: A medical worker wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) is seen at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the George Papanikolaou General Hospital, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Thessaloniki, Greece, November 11, 2020. Picture taken November 11, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis/File Photo

On Saturday, the government tightened the measures further, closing primary schools and nurseries from Monday for two weeks until the end of the lockdown period. Distance learning has already been implemented in secondary schools and universities.

Greece registered 3,038 new coronavirus cases on Friday. On Thursday it recorded 3,316 new infections and 50 deaths, the highest daily tolls recorded during the pandemic so far.

(Reporting by Renee Maltezou; Editing by Mark Potter)