Greece confirmed 721 new COVID-19 cases and 49 deaths in 24 hours on Friday, reported the National Public Health Organization (EODY) on Friday.

There have been 5,195 coronavirus-related deaths in Greece since the start of the pandemic.

In an effort to curtail the crisis, the lockdown which had been extended to Monday 11 January has been further extended to Monday, 18 January.

The government had imposed tougher week-long restrictions ahead of opening primary schools this week, including suspending store pick-ups of online purchases (“click-away”).

Greece’s Deputy Civil Protection Minister for Crisis Management Nikos Hardalias said that church services will be held without the presence of the faithful, while individuals may go to church to pray by keeping established measures (including wearing masks and observing social distancing), while funerals may only include a maximum of nine people, all of whom must be first-degree relatives.

Fishing and hunting are still banned, and there will be no public attendance at games of Super League 2 and Vollea League which are due to start from 16-17 January.

READ MORE: Cyprus goes into lockdown until the end of January

Schools open

Mr Hardalias reiterated said nursery schools, kindergartens, primary schools and special needs schools of all levels will open on Monday, 11 January.

Flights

The Civil Aviation Authority announced on Friday that Greece has extended restrictions on international flights by two weeks to help curtail the spread of COVID-19.

Passengers entering Greece from foreign countries, including in the EU, are required to self-isolate for seven days at the place where they will be staying, as listed on their Passenger Locator Form (PLF) or for the entire duration of their stay if it is for less than a week.

Travellers will have to submit to a rapid coronavirus test as soon as they arrive at the airport if they are chosen at random to do so.

If their test shows up positive, the traveler must stay in quarantine in the location given on their PLF (available at the website travel.gov.gr) for two weeks.

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UK travellers will be tested upon arrival and then once again seven days later due to the heightened presence of the virus variant in the UK. If they are found to be positive at that time, they will be required to stay in quarantine for another seven days in that same location.

The tightened restrictions will last at least through 21 January.

US travellers are not permitted into Greece with few exceptions.