The deaths of four elderly COVID-19 within a few hours in nursing and retirement homes across Greece has ramped up anxiety that the Coronavirus is spiraling even more out of control despite health measures aimed at reining it in.

Citing unconfirmed reports, Kathimerini reported the deaths that would put the country's fast-jumping toll at 278. The paper said the victims were .a 94-year-old woman on the island of Lesbos, an 86-year-old man in Athens and two more patients in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, a man aged 86 and a woman, 100.

Their deaths come as health authorities locked down a nursing home in the northern Athens suburb of Maroussi after 18 frail and elderly patients and a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 during inspections of facilities, the paper added.

An outbreak at a nursing home in Thessaloniki in August resulted in at least 20 deaths among its patients with the elderly and those with multiple or underlying conditions among the most susceptible.

Health authorities urged young people living or interacting with elderly parents or grandparents to exercise extreme caution by keeping their distance and always wearing a mask when this is not possible.

The warning is particularly aimed at young people returning from summer holidays with schools set to start Sept. 14 and grandparents in Greece often bringing their grandchildren to classes, uncertain this year.

Furthermore, Some eighteen Covid-19 infections were on Wednesday evening confirmed at a care facility for the elderly in Marousi, Athens, the Civil Protection Secretariat and the National Public Health Organization (EODY) reported. Eight seniors have so far been transferred to the Pamakaristos clinic while another ten will be reportedly taken to Evangelismos public hospital. The facility was placed in a 10-day quarantine late on Wednesday.