Νews in brief

Tension was noted earlier at the Greek-Turkish border at Evros, as refugees and migrants tried to cross over.

Sources note that Turkey is evacuating the Edirne and the Pazar Cule refugee shelters, near the Greek borders, after the agreement reached between Putin and Erdogan, regarding a seizefire at Idlib, Syria.

Following a request of Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias, an extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council convenes in Zagreb, Croatia, to discuss the situation on the EU-Turkish border. Developments in Syria will also be discussed in this regard.

EU Ministers of Health are to hold an extraordinary meeting in Brussels at 11 this morning to discuss ways to tackle the spreading of the coronavirus.

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Greece has risen to 31, infectious diseases expert and health ministry spokesperson Prof. Sotiris Tsiodras announced on Thursday.

Tsiodras said the 21 new cases that tested positive were detected among a group of 24 tourists that had visited Israel with the ninth diagnosed case, of which three were in serious condition and suffering from pneumonia and six were in relatively good condition.

Warning against a «panic epidemic», Tsiodras nevertheless stressed the need to strictly follow hygiene rules, noting that there was a high risk of the virus spreading through travellers.

“We expect a significant increase in cases in our country also. According to mathematical models and taking the weather into account, we estimate that 5 pct of the population could get sick this year and up to 10-15 pct of the population next winter,» he added.

Panteion University is operating normally, although yesterday it was announced it would close for 48 hours for precautionary reasons.

Schools are closed in the municipality of Marathonas and Rafina-Pikermi. Schools will close earlier today for sanitation in the municipalities of Nea Philadephia, Chalkidona, Korydallos and Aspropyrgos.

The World Health Organization warned Thursday that a “long list” of countries were not showing “the level of political commitment” needed to “match the level of the threat we all face”.

The White House has acknowledged the nation does not have enough coronavirus test kits as cases of the disease ticked upwards on both US coasts.

Globally, authorities have confirmed more than 98,000 cases of the virus.

The vast majority – more than 80,000 – are in China, where the virus originated. Worldwide, more than 3,300 people have died.

The first death recorded in the UK – a woman in her 70s with other health problems.

ADEDY public sector union employees are holding a work freeze from noon to the end fo the shift, to honor the World Women’s day, celebrated on Sunday, March 8th.

Free entrance to museums and archaeological sites to honor Melina Merkouri’s death anniversary.

And the weather forecast…

Sunny in Attica today with the temperature expected to reach a maximum 18 degrees Celsius.

More news in brief Monday morning at 9.