schema:articleBody
| - Greece has suspended flights from Britain and nearly all incoming travel from Turkey, an official said Monday as the official coronavirus death toll rose to 17. Flights from Britain and all travel from Turkey, except that by Greek nationals or residents, are suspended to April 15, acting government spokeswoman Aristotelia Peloni told reporters. The transport of goods is also exempt. While the flight suspension from Britain will take effect at midnight, the Turkey ban was activated this morning. The announcement came hours after Greek authorities began enforcing a nationwide lockdown, limiting people to their homes except for essential outings. Greece has already suspended flights from Italy, Spain and non-EU countries. Top Greek carrier Aegean Airlines on Monday said it was suspending all foreign flights from March 26 to April 30. The carrier said only a small number of weekly flights to Brussels would be kept running "to maintain links with the EU administrative centre". It added that a limited number of domestic flights would remain for the emergency transport of people and goods. Special flights have brought back over 1,000 Greeks, the foreign ministry said Sunday. Those returning, mainly from other European countries, are going into compulsory 14-day quarantine. There are 17 recorded deaths and 695 officially announced infections from the coronavirus in Greece, which has a population of 11 million. The tough new measures mirror similar restrictions rolled out in other European nations, including hard-hit Italy, Spain and France. Since reporting its first death from the virus on March 12, Greece has gradually rolled out measures to limit gatherings and non-essential travel, as well as closing schools, shops and entertainment venues. mr/jph/jj
|