People wear protective face masks as they walk outside closed stores, as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus disease COVID-19), on the main commercial Ermou Street in Athens, Greece, March 18, 2020. REUTERS/Costas Baltas
ATHENS: Greece will ban public gatherings of 10 people and more, effective Thursday, in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus, its crisis management minister said.
"Movement outside of the home must be limited to the absolute minimum and only for vital needs," the minister, Nikos Hardalias, told journalists. Greece reported a rise in the number of coronavirus cases on Wednesday by 31, to 418 people. (Reporting By Lefteris Papadimas, writing by Michele Kambas)
