MT ATHOS — The administration of the monastic community on Mount Athos – the peninsula also known as the 'Holy Mountain' – on Tuesday sent a circular instructing all Mount Athos monasteries to restrict their visitors to just 10 at a time in order to avoid spreading the novel coronavirus and banning the movement of visitors between monasteries.

The measures were announced following an emergency meeting held at the community's capital Karyes on Tuesday, after at least 10 cases of Covid-19 were detected in monasteries and a hermitage on the peninsula in the last two days.

The quota also includes workmen, associates, suppliers and staff, thus greatly restricting access to the Holy Mountain for pilgrims.

A National Public Health Organisation team is currently on Mount Athos to track and trace possible cases, while one monk has been admitted to a Thessaloniki hospital in serious condition and two monasteries – St. Paul and Chilandari – placed in quarantine.