News in brief

Greece has reported its tenth case of coronavirus, a person related to a 66 year-old retired teacher who recently travelled to Israel and Egypt.  Both cases are being treated at Rio hospital, near Patras. 

The government announced emergency measures on Wednesday evening in the prefectures of Ilia, Zakynthos and Achaia in western Greece to contain the spread of the coronavirus. 

Under the measures, schools, sports arenas, cinemas, theaters and archaeological sites will be closed for 48 hours.

Thriasio hospital employees are holding a work freeze until 3 pm. They are currently holding a protest at Mavili square. They will later march to the Ministry of Health on Aristotelous street.

Minister of Health, Vasilis Kikilias will visit shortly the Genimatas General Hospital, one of the hospitals where isolation boxes for coronavirus detection will be placed.

EU Ministers of Health will hold an extraordinary meeting tomorrow in Brussels to discuss the spreading of the coronavirus.

Italy has confirmed that it will shut all schools for 10 days as it battles to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

California has declared a state of emergency after announcing its first coronavirus death, bringing the US death toll from the disease to 11.

The European Union strongly rejects Turkey’s use of migratory pressure for political purposes, a statement after a special meeting of EU interior ministers yesterday.

“This situation at EU’s external borders is not acceptable.”

The EU interior ministers said that they expect Turkey to implement fully the provisions of the 2016 Joint Statement with regard to all EU countries.

Ministry of Foreign affairs Nikos Dendias is travelling to the Croatian capital, Zagreb today for the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers, ahead of tomorrow’s extraordinary meeting of the Council of Foreign Affairs- called by Greece-, where developments in Syria and the Greek-Turkish borders will be discussed.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, will hold talks today in Moscow amid mounting tensions in Syria.

Police has dismissed 56 persons detained last night at the Acropolis Metro station, for causing material damage.

And the weather forecast…

Cloudy in Attica today with rain expected in the afternoon. The temperature today will reach a maximum of 18 degrees Celsius.

More news in brief tomorrow morning at 9.