Greece warns citizens as virus cases rise

ANKARA

Greece reported 121 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, with five of them detected at the country’s entry points, according to health authorities.

According to the National Organization for Public Health (EODY), no coronavirus-related deaths were reported in Greece in the last 24 hours while the overall tally stood at 209.

As the virus cases climb, the representative of the Greek Health Ministry, Dr. Sotiris Tsiodras, made a televised briefing after nearly two months, warning citizens and officials to comply with health measures to prevent a second wave.

Tsiodras said that Greece’s coronavirus R-number -- or reproduction number -- has risen to one from 0.4 in mid-July. The R-value shows how many healthy people will be infected by a sick person. If it is higher than one, it means that the pandemic is growing.

Tsiodras also urged citizens to wear face masks and maintain social distancing.

Meanwhile, new precautions were announced, including some restrictions on entry to Greece through the Kakavia border post with Albania. The government also extended the limit of 100 people at social events, such as weddings and funerals, to Aug. 31.

Since the start of the outbreak, a total of 4,855 people -- 54.6% men -- have been infected with the novel virus in Greece. As many as 1,325 -- 27.3% -- of the total cases are linked to foreign travel, EODY said.

The southeastern European country ended the three-month-long virus restrictions in June and reopened its borders to tourists.