Public buses use one of the main avenues during a curfew in central Athens on Friday. Thanassis Stavrakis/AP

Gulf Today Report

Greek authorities announced on Saturday the closure of its primary schools, kindergartens and daycare centres until the end of November, tightening a nationwide lockdown after a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias said in a statement that, “The Greek government decided the suspension of the functioning of schools until November 30."

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Most European countries have kept schools open during the second waves of cases that has hit the continent since September, unlike in March and April when they were shuttered during the first lockdowns.

Police stop a car at a check point at Syntagma square during a curfew in central Athens, on Friday. AP

Greece has fared better than many other European countries in tackling the coronavirus, mainly due to an early nationwide lockdown imposed weeks after the pandemic broke out in February.

A gradual increase in infections since early October has forced authorities to reimpose restrictions and order a second nationwide lockdown, which expires at the end of November and includes a night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am.