ATHENS – The government will issue an Act of Legislative Content with measures to avert and contain the spread of the new coronavirus, to be deployed as necessary depending on the progression of the disease worldwide and if there is a confirmed case of the virus in Greece, government spokesperson Stelios Petsas announced on Tuesday at a press briefing.

“In continuation of Monday’s meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, we will proceed with the issue of an Act of Legislative Content on measures to avert and contain the spread of coronavirus,” he said, noting that this will have five main articles.

The first of these will concern containment and monitoring measures, designed to prevent the virus spreading. The measures will be:

-The imposition of preventive checks at the country’s entrance and exit points, such as airports, ports, railway stations or road networks with countries where the disease has spread significantly.

-The temporary restriction, total or partial, of train, road, sea and air links with countries with a high spread of virus.

-The temporary suspension of the operation of schools and all kinds of educational institutes, as well as cinemas, theatres, churches, sports and cultural venues, businesses, public organisations and other services and of large indoor gatherings in general.

– Restricting the circulation of public transport.

The second article concerns issues regarding the transfer and hiring of health service personnel needed to address the spread of coronavirus, the third article refers to matters concerning state procurement contracts and allowing the direct procurement, in contravention to normal practice, of health and hygiene supplies, individual protection gear and medicines.

The fourth article concerns the forced requisitioning of beds in private clinics and hospitals, ICUs, hotels, private hosting facilities and other private properties by the state.

Finally, the fifth article refers to the emergency financing of the Health Ministry to cover emergency needs in terms of staff hiring and the purchase of materials and for protection measures.

Petsas said that Mitsotakis has given clear orders for the implementation of the specific plan, aspects of which will be deployed according to the progression of the epidemic in Europe and worldwide.

“We remain calm and implement the measures we have decided and remain on alert to do whatever is possible for the protection of public health,” he said.