Greece virus deaths rise past 1,000

Deaths from the coronavirus have topped 1,000 in Greece, and authorities say that over half occurred since October 18.

The Greek government has decided to shut down elementary schools, kindergartens and day care centers for two weeks starting Monday. Children will be schooled at home, as is already happening with high school and university students.

Authorities have stepped up controls and enforcement of a 9:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. curfew, including by making arrests.

Two foreign exchange students who hosted an after-hours party at their apartment in the northern city of Thessaloniki were arrested at 10.30 p.m. Friday and fined 3,000 euros each on the spot. The 24-year-old Palestinian man and 21-year-old woman from France received suspended prison sentences of 2 years and two months on Saturday.

Their 15 party guests, all university students from western Europe, were fined 300 euros each but not arrested.

Greece reported 2,835 new confirmed virus patients along with 38 deaths on Saturday. The country has reported 72,510 patients and 1,035 deaths since the start of the pandemic.-AP