Health workers in Greece were nationally applauded in a unique display by thousands of people across the nation at 9pm on Sunday who stood out on their balconies to cheer their efforts against Covid-19.
“We applaud for five minutes the people who are fighting for us. The health personnel. We want our applause to be heard at every hospital so they can take courage for the days to come,” said a message that spread through Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms.
The call in Greece to support the healthworkers followed the example set in Spain on Saturday evening, minutes after Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez addressed the nation calling on people to be confined in their homes except to make short trips to buy supplies.
Meanwhile, in other measures to contain the virus, the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (NOTAM) decleared all passenger flights to and from Spain were suspended from Sunday, 15 March to 29 March. A similar order was issued for Italy which on Sunday recorded 3,590 cases in one day – the largest single-day increase to date – 100 more than on the previous day.
The number of deaths in Italy rose dramatically on Sunday from 368 to 1,809.
Germany partially closed its borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and Denmark.