The lockdown is upon us and there is room for regulations to get even tighter before it gets easier. Neos Kosmos is offering you some useful things to do to keep you entertained, educated and informed during this enforced home time. Most of what follows is available online.

1. GREEK MUSEUMS
On a rainy day you might go to a museum or a gallery but since they are closed why not go online and that way you can take your time studying a piece or reading up about it without the pressure to move on. Visit the website of the National Archaeological Museum to view its massive sculpture collection; its metal-work artefacts; vases and pottery; even an Ancient Egyptian collection and also Cypriot Antiquities. Take a virtual journey around the  Acropolis Musem. Head to the Museum of Greek Culture – the Benaki Museum in Athens with its virtual tours of the museum with artefacts ranging from prehistory to the 20th Century. There is also the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, one of the largest museums in Greece focusing on Greek and Macedonian artefacts. The Museum of Byzantine Culture, also in Thessaloniki, is a great place to if you want to understand more about medieval Greece.

2. AUSTRALIAN MUSEUMS
The Hellenic Museum in Melbourne site offers a range of exhibitions to view online. The National Gallery of Victoria is offering virtual tours of some of its galleries. The Immigration Museum in Melbourne has virtual tours and Youtube features.

3. LIBRARIES ONLINE FACILITIES
Don’t forget your library it may be closed but there is a lot you can access online. You can also register for the online services even if you are not a member. Many libraries have a huge range of eBooks and audio books that you can download and enjoy.. For example the City of Melbourne Libraries allow you to join online and gain access to its big collection of ebooks, eaudiobooks; eMagazines and comics; Reseach, eNews; eMusic; eFilm; eKids. Some libraries are offering story times for the youngsters check out the Public Library Virtual Storytimes site.

READ MORE: Eerily quiet in Oakleigh where coronavirus lockdown is keeping crowds at bay

4. LIVE CHURCH LITURGIES
With church services put on hold some have taken to the internet to still serve the faithful. Neos Kosmos has provided a list of sites where these services may be attended in Greek-Orthodox churches in Australia live-stream liturgies on Facebook

5. FREE COURSES
There are heaps of online free courses that can keep you occupied. A good site to visit, for example, is the Stayathomemum website which covers courses in business and management, marketing, , special and technical skills: including graphic design, guitar skills, app development, cryptocurrency, photography, writing and finance. Or just go to Google and type “free online courses” and you will be sure to find what you need.

6. PHILOSOPHICAL LEANINGS
If you are philosophically minded you can have a go at some free online philosophy courses through links offered by the edX website on  and it also features a wide range of other topics to look for.

7. ONLINE THEATRE
Neos Kosmos reported that you can access archived Greek theatre productions online, read the  Watch-from-home Greek theatre in the coronavirus era article for all the details of where to access these productions from home. To see top-end theatre you can subscribe to Digital Theatre on YouTube to see the best actors on the world stage.

8. LIVE STREAMING OF ARTS EVENTS
Many music, art and literature events are streaming live and an excellent source for this is the Australian Guardian‘s listing of livestreaming events.

READ MORE: University of Athens coronavirus platform shows the geographical distribution and evolution

9. WRITING COMPETITION
Sharpen your pencil or blow the dust off your keyboard and take a plunge to write a poem or short story for the annual Greek Australian Cultural League literary competition. Email gaclitcomp@gmail.com the league to get all the details to enter.

10. BOOKS
This is a good time to catch up with all the  books you have gathered in your home waiting for the time to be able to read them. Now is that time..

11. READ AND CONTRIBUTE TO NEOS KOSMOS
Neos Kosmos will be presenting its rolling news coverage as it has for more than six decades. Our digital subscription service is available to all those in self-isolation. Enjoy our stories and, of course, if you have a photo to share or a letter to the editor, send it to letters@neoskosmos.com.au

12. SOCIAL MEDIA CATCH UP
Catch up with old friends around the world on social media in the sure knowledge that they are as keen for distraction as you are cocooned in self-imposed lockdown