14:16

Meanwhile, more has emerged about the first victim to contract the virus in Greece.

The 38-year-old, while not publicly named, has been identified as a well-known designer who had travelled to northern Italy to attend Milan’s fashion week. She returned to Thessaloniki, Greece’s northern capital, on a Ryanair flight on Sunday and admitted herself to hospital after beginning to feel unwell on Tuesday.

The designer, who has also run for public office, is reported to have travelled to Milan with a group of journalists and several town hall councillors. So far, 15 people – including members of her family – have been quarantined for two weeks. But an inquiry is under way as to how many people she has been in contact with.

A friend who flew with her on what he described as a “packed plane” told Live News the woman “seemed fine, we didn’t understand that anything [was wrong] with her”.

Greece has assigned 13 state-run hospitals to admit Covid-19 patients. The health minister Vassilis Kikilias, who has rescinded leave for medical workers and doctors across the board, is expected to travel to Thessaloniki tomorrow.