Greek island reimposes COVID curfew amid spike in cases

ATHENS, Greece — The island of Mykonos has become the first location in Greece to have reimposed a curfew due to a spike in coronavirus cases.

Greek authorities say that one in 10 individuals tested on the island in recent days tested positive.

The 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. curfew took effect today, and authorities have also imposed a round-the-clock ban on music in bars, cafes and restaurants starting 6 p.m. today. Fines for violations range up to 200,000 euros ($236,000).

The ban on music and the curfew will end on Monday, July 26, unless the government decides to extend it.

Police on the island, a high-end tourist destination, say that violations of social distancing norms had gotten out of hand recently.

Authorities say the single hotel assigned to people quarantining has overflowed and visitors who have tested positive have been camping on beaches.

Greece continued to report a relatively high number of new infections, with 2,562 cases reported in the 24-hour period ending at 3 p.m. today. There were also seven deaths.