News in brief
Over in Greece this morning the infection rate has risen from 84 to 89 overnight, according to the country’s health ministry.
One of the cases, it said, had been “imported” from London.
Health authorities called on people with symptoms of the virus to stay at home and avoid exposing others to potential infection.
All cultural events in closed venues scheduled to draw more than 1,000 people are cancelled.
European markets advanced on Tuesday after stocks saw their worst day since the 2008 financial crisis in the previous trading session.
The Athens Stock Exchange began today’s session with an index rise of 5.5%.
The city of Athens is ready to deal with a spreading of the virus, relevant vice-Mayor Manolis Kalabokas has stated.
Citizens can call the helpline at 1135, for any questions regarding the virus.
Several schools are closed today. You can visit our station website for a complete list of schools that are closed and events that have been cancelled.
Pierce & Deree college will remain closed for the 10th & 11th of March due to a confirmed coronavirus case in Deree, its administration announced this morning.
The number of deaths due to the coronavirus worldwide has passed 4,000.
Global markets are plunging after fueling panic.
US President Trump announced that he would work with Congress on measures to bolster the economy following the steepest market drop in more than a decade.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting Wuhan for the first time since the outbreak began.
More than 60 million Italians woke up to lockdown conditions, after the measures imposed on the northern “red zone” were extended to the whole country.
In the US, passengers started disembarking from the Grand Princess cruise ship at the Port of Oakland in California. There were 21 cases of coronavirus confirmed onboard.
The government announced on Monday the first set of measures aimed at easing the blow on the economy from the expansion of the coronavirus outbreak. At this stage, the measures concern companies that have stopped operating for at least 10 days on the orders of the government.
The attempted entry to Greece of a large wave of migrants from Turkey and the repercussions of the coronavirus in public health and the economy were the focus of a meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Monday.
Both agreed that the time leading up to the EU summit on March 26 should be used constructively to ensure Turkey lowers tension and to discuss improvements to the joint statement on migration.
They also discussed the new draft EU budget and the repercussions of the coronavirus to public health and the economy, at an EU-level.
“The lines of communication with Turkey remain open and active,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said following a meeting in Brussels on Monday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which ended without an agreement on the way forward following Turkish moves to encourage thousands of migrants and refugees to push through the Greek border into the European Union.
The Prime Minister departs for the Austrian capital today where he will meet with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in the afternoon.
Five EU countries have agreed to take in some migrant children who are stuck in Greece, amid continuing tension on the Greek-Turkish border.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen thanked Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Portugal, which agreed to take up to 1,500 children in total. They are children categorised as unaccompanied and/or very sick.
And the weather forecast…
Sunny this morning in Attica with clouds and local showers expected in the afternoon. The temperature will reach a maximum of 16 degrees Celsius.
More news in brief tomorrow morning at 9.
