SPARTI, Greece — Tighter lockdown restrictions will be imposed in the Argolida regional unit and Sparti municipality in the Peloponnese, starting at 6:00 on Thursday and until January 18, due to a spike in levels of novel coronavirus in these areas.

Deputy Civil Protection and Crisis Management Minister Nikos Hardalias, based on the results of mass testing and of track and trace, as well as a sharp rise in levels of the virus in the last seven days, has forbidden all travel out of these areas and imposed a strict curfew between 18:00 and 5:00 the next day, except to go and return from work.

There will also be a suspension of all religious ceremonies and the closure of all shops, with the Peloponnese regional authority undertaking to supply households with essentials (food, medicine etc) and other assistance they may require.

The Peloponnese fire brigade service has been enlisted to provide assistance in the form of personnel and means, where this is required.

The Peloponnese police command has also been empowered to supervise and take all action necessary to enforce the rules requiring Argolida and Sparti residents to remain housebound and not leave their area.

The National Committee for the Protection of Public Health will be asked to assess the epidemiological situation in both areas during its regular meeting on Friday.