Νews in brief

Extended operation hours for supermarkets as of today. Supermarkets will be open from 7am to 10 pm on weekdays and Saturdays and from 9am to 5 pm on Sundays.

Greece expects lower borrowing costs following its inclusion in an emergency assets purchases’ program launched by the European Central Bank (ECB), its finance minister said.
The ECB triggered new bond purchases worth 750 billion euros ($816.90 billion) at an emergency meeting late on Wednesday to stop a pandemic-induced financial rout from shredding the euro zone’s economy and renew concerns about the bloc’s viability.
The purchases will also include for the first time debt from Greece, which has been shut out of previous ECB buys because of its low credit rating.

Christos Staikouras, Greece’s finance minister, said the decision made about 12 billion euros in Greek government debt eligible for inclusion, which was expected to help in lowering borrowing costs.
“This is tangible support to our country and is a gesture of confidence in the government’s policies of handling this present health crisis,” he said in a written statement issued early this morning.

Greek Development and Investments Minister Adonis Georgiadis announced he is suspending as of Thursday the operation of debt collecting and debt management companies for as long as the government’s emergency quarantine measures to tackle the new coronavirus outbreak are in place.

Public gatherings of more than 10 people in open spaces is banned as of Thursday, Civil Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias said on Wednesday, announcing new coronavirus restrictions with fines of 1,000 euros for violators.
Following a briefing on coronavirus statistics by infectious disease specialist Sotiris Tsiodras, Hardalias also said assemblies of more than 10 people in indoor spaces, especially for purely entertainment purposes, were discouraged.

In terms of businesses, those who do not have the option of staff working from a distance must use emergency staff on a rotation basis, ensuring that safe distance is kept between them.
The minister reiterated the directive of staying at home for safety and avoiding contact with people beyond their immediate family.

Previously at the briefing, Tsiodras announced that there were now 31 new coronavirus cases diagnosed since Tuesday, with the total reaching 418 people.
Of the 418, the source of infection for 64 is unknown, he said.
Tsiodras further said that mathematical models pointed out to 2,000-3,000 people being infected in Greece at this point.

40 London Underground stations to close and Night Tube suspended as capital prepares for lockdown.
The announcements come as the UK death toll related to the virus rises to 104, with more than 2,600 cases confirmed.

The Olympic flame ceremony will take place this morning at the Panathinaic stadium, with no spectators. Greece will hand the flame to the committee representing “Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games”.

And the weather forecast…

Cloudy in Attica this morning with a gradual improvement from this afternoon. The temperature will reach a high of 14 degrees Celsius.