Sotiris Tsiodras

The Holy Synod, the ruling body of Greece's Orthodox Church, agreed on Monday to suspend all daily services and sacraments for an indefinite period as part of the government's efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.

The Holy Synod, the ruling body of Greece's Orthodox Church, agreed on Monday to suspend all daily services and rituals for an indefinite period as part of the government's efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.

Greece's total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is now 352, infectious diseases Professor Sotiris Tsiodras at the daily briefing to reporters today.

The briefing was also attended by newly-appointed Civil Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Chardalias.

Tsiodras said that there were 21 new cases since Sunday.

The source of infection for 51 cases is undetermined, he added.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tonight ordered the closure of all churches and places of worship of all denominations.

Mitsotakis announced the decision via his Twitter account straight on the heels of a decision of the Orthodox Church of Greece to severely restrict services but to keep conducting an abbreviated Sunday Divine Liturgy between 8am and 9pm.

Greece's total number of confirmed Covid-19 infections stands at 352, as 21 new cases were added since Sunday, according to Health Ministry spokesman and infectious diseases Professor Sotiris Tsiodras who spoke at a press briefing on Monday.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is to speak with opposition leftist SYRIZA leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis at 6 p.m. on Monday afternoon via live video link in a bid to bolster the government's "Stay at Home" message to citizens as part of increasingly strict measures to curb the spread of coronavirus. 

In yet another drastic measure to contain the corona virus Greece today  sealed its borders with Albania and North Macedonia one day after the two countries closed their borders with Greece even as the government announced additional restrictive measures.

Greek authorities on Saturday said that an additional 38 patients have been infected by the new coronavirus, raising the new total in the country to 228.

Twenty-two of the new cases are believed to be "domestic," which means they concern patients who had not traveled recently abroad, Health Ministry spokesman Sotiris Tsiodras said in a press conference.

Health Ministry representative Sotiris Tsiodras on Friday announced new measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, saying that all malls, cafes, bars and food outlets to close though supermarkets are to remain open. 

Food outlets offering home delivery service will be able to continue those, he said. 

After data showing a more rapid spread of COVID-19 and the first death in Greece caused by the coronavirus - a 66-year-old man who was one of over 40 people who contracted the virus on a trip to the Holy Land and Egypt - authorities proceeded with more drastic measures.

Authorities had already ordered the closure of schools and universities for at least two weeks.