LAMIA, Greece — An even stricter local lockdown has been imposed since 6:00 on Tuesday morning in the village of Sperchiada, in the municipality of Makrakomi in Central Greece, after a sharp spike in Covid-19 cases in the area.

Authorities had taken more than 15 samples that tested positive for Covid-19 in the area the previous week, while track and trace revealed that these were mainly among younger and more active people, so that the number of cases rose constantly.

In a bid to contain the virus, Makrakomi has already banned farmers' markets and the ministry acted on recommendations to impose a stricter lockdown, with police patrolling and controlling the entrances and exits into the community, forbidding residents from moving about.

Municipality crews have undertaken to supply local residents with essential food and medical supplies, while a mobile National Public Health Organisation (NPHO) unit is in the area carrying out rapid tests, in order to gauge the extent of the disease's spread.

The tougher lockdown measures will be in force until January 14 at 6:00