Greeks told 'forego Easter', ministers donate pay

Greece's prime minister is calling on all his cabinet ministers and the lawmakers of his center-right New Democracy party to donate 50 percent of their salaries over the next two months to the fight the spread of coronavirus.

Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas, said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis asked his politicians to participate in the "symbolic gesture" whose funds would be deposited in a special account set up to tackle Covid-19.

Petsas also warned Greeks that they will have to forego their Easter traditions this year as the country tackles the coronavirus outbreak.

People celebrating Orthodox Easter, by far the largest religious holiday in Greece falling this year on April 19, will not be able to gather for church services or Sunday lunch.

The government has imposed strict restrictions on movement, banning anyone from traveling to islands unless they are permanent residents and imposing a lockdown on the country in an effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

People are only allowed out of their homes for specific reasons such as work, visit a doctor, buy food or medication, exercise or walk a pet.

Some priests have voiced objections to the fact that visiting churches for individual prayers have not been included in the reasons allowing people outdoors.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could lead to death.