ATHENS — "The differences between now and the lockdown in March 2020 were closed schools and no click-away in the market, I can't see any other difference. If the Health Minister recommends it then, what can I say. We, at the development ministry have other concerns and each of us is responsible for his sector, it is logical," stated Development Minister Adonis Georgiadis to SKAI TV on Tuesday, commenting on the health minister's statement that he intends to recommend a full lockdown in Attica due to the increase in COVID-19 cases and the pressure on the hospitals.

"If the Health Minister makes such a recommendation obviously the government will take it very seriously," Georgiadis said, adding that there is acute concern for Attica as half the Greek population lives there, it is densely populated, and if the pandemic gets out of control there, "it could take on very bad dimensions," he noted.

Finally, he underlined that after the recommendation, some time must be allowed to discuss the measures to avoid "u-turns and a picture that is not right, giving the opposition parties an opportunity to criticise".