Vasilis Kikilias

Popular comedy actor Kostas Voutsas, who acted in more than 200 films, plays and TV series in a career spanning over six decades, died on Wednesday. He was 88.

The Greek authorities have taken every measure to protect the country against the spread of the new coronavirus, Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias said on Monday, as the death toll in neighboring Italy climbed to five.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will be receiving Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias at his office in the Maximos Mansion on Monday for a briefing on a weekend meeting of health officials on the new coronavirus outbreak in neighboring Italy.

Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias on Thursday announced a legislative initiative to facilitate the immediate hiring of medical staff at the hospitals on the eastern Aegean islands that bear the brunt of migration influx.
Speaking on Alpha TV, Kikilias said that the hospitals needed to be supported because they were originally designed to serve the needs of the local population.

European Union health ministers met in Brussels on Thursday for an emergency summit to discuss a coordinated response to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. Greece's Vassilis Kikilias recommended a digital platform that would allow member-states' crisis management authorities to exchange information related to the health scare in real time.

Greek Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias will be in Brussels on Thursday to participate in an extraordinary EU ministers meeting to discuss the bloc's preparedness to tackle a possible coronavirus outbreak.

Israel's Foreign Ministry director-general Yuval Rotem will visit Athens Wednesday for talks with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and other officials, the Israeli embassy announced.

Greece's Health Ministry has ordered the operation of an additional 15 beds at intensive care units (ICUs) at state hospitals in the Greek capital to meet with increased demand.

Health workers are using infrared thermometers at Athens' International Airport to check the temperature of tourists arriving with direct flights from China for possible coronavirus infections.

Authorities are also distributing leaflets with all the necessary information on Greek health services in Chinese and have posted posters in arrivals and departures at the airport.

The government is stepping up measures to prevent the new coronavirus from spreading in Greece.

After a meeting of the National Council of Public Health overseen by Health Minister Vasilis Kikilias on Monday, it was announced that the government will hire additional staff to reinforce medical laboratories, state hospitals and entry points to the country.