Sotiris Tsiodras

The number of coronavirus infections in Greece rose to 117, Greek Health Ministry spokesman Sotiris Tsiodras told journalists on Thursday.

Tsiodras said 107 of those cases are linked to known cases, 10 have unknown origin, while another 15 cases are being investigated to determine their origin.

The number of coronavirus cases in Greece has risen to 99, Greek Health Ministry representative, Sotiris Tsiodras told reporters on Wednesday. 

Of the total cases, 95 are Greeks and four are foreign nationals, he said, adding that two of the patients are in intensive care units.

With all of neighbouring Italy having been confined to their homes the Greek government took the drastic move of shutting down all schools and universities nationwide.

The measure was announced by Health Minister Vasilis Kikilias and signals that the state is prepared to take radical measures to curb the spread of the potentially deadly coronavirus.

As the number of coronavirus cases in the country rose to 84 on Monday with 11 new infections identified, health authorities called on people with symptoms of the virus to stay at home and avoid exposing others to potential infection. Of the 84 people infected with Covid-19, 81 are Greeks and three are foreign nationals, Health Ministry spokesman Sotiris Tsiodras told reporters. 

The Israeli Embassy in Greece announced Monday it was closing for two weeks as a precaution after an employee was diagnosed with the new coronavirus, an embassy press release said.

Accoring to the announcement, the ambassador and his diplomatic team will continue working from their homes.

Greece's Health Ministry identified 11 new cases of the new coronavirus in the country, bringing the total number to 84.

Of those infected, 81 are Greek nationals and three are foreigners, ministry spokesman Sotiris Tsiodras said in a press briefing on Monday, without specifying the nationality of the foreigners.

Greek authorities on Friday announced that 14 more people have tested positive to the new coronavirus, adding the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 45.

With the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases rising to 31 on Thursday after 21 travelers who had recently returned from a pilgrimage to religious sites in Israel and Egypt tested positive, health authorities are bracing for a spike in the disease. 

Schools, universities, theatres, cinemas, athletics facilities, archaeological sites, artistic venues and museums have been closed initially for a period of 48 hours in the prefectures of Achaia, Elia, and Zakynthos.

Nationwide measures will be re-evaluated after that period.

The Health Ministry announced that the number of Greece's confirmed coronavirus cases has increased to nine.
The man, who had recently traveled to Israel and Egypt, is now in quarantine at a hospital in Patra in the Peloponnese. 
Public health officials have begun tracing the patient's other close contacts to ensure that appropriate measures are in place.