Independence Day parades on 25th March cancelled throughout Greece

The decision was announced at Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' meeting with Regional Governors to coordinate the efforts of central and regional governments to deal with the problem of coronavirus.

"Whenever there is a crisis we always hear 'Where's the State?' But this time we haven't heard that and we must each do what what we can so that we don't hear it," said the Prime Minister. "All of us here are the State and each one of us must accept our responsibilities. We must all contribute to the efforts to overcome the crisis with as little damage as possible." He asked that the guidelines from the National Public Health Organisation (EODY) be strictly followed and that all efforts be fully coordinated with the responsible Ministries.

He also stressed that all initiatives must be carried out in full cooperation with those responsible. There was an assessment of the situation in each Region at the meeting and it was decided not to hold the 25th March parades - instead, small representative group from the local authorities will lay wreaths.

Also present at the meeting were the Minister of Education, Niki Kerameos; Minister of Health, Vassilis Kikilias; Minister of the Interior, Takis Theodorikakos; Minister of State, Giorgos Gerapetritis; Deputy Minister of the Interior, Theodoros Livanios; Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Coordination, Akis Skertsos; Civil Protection General Secretary, Nikos Hardalias and Professor of Infectious Diseases Sotiris Tsiodras.

Source: Kathimerini.gr