ATHENS, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Greece's National Public Health Organization on Wednesday reported 865 new COVID-19 infections within the past 24 hours, the largest new daily surge registered since the first case was diagnosed in the country on Feb. 26.

The new record came just one day after the previous daily high of 667 reported on Tuesday.

Currently, Greece has 27,334 novel coronavirus infections, including 534 fatalities, it was reported.

Six patients died in the past 24 hours and 86 people were hospitalized in intensive care units, according to a press release.

The fact that the daily record has been broken four times during October has fueled concern with authorities announcing additional restrictive measures once again to deal with the current second wave of the pandemic in Greece.

The region of Kastoria in northern Greece will be the second region to be put under lockdown during this second wave, Nikos Hardalias, Deputy Minister for Civil Protection and Crisis Management said.

Starting from this Friday and for the next two weeks, the use of protective face masks will be compulsory everywhere, traveling outside the region will be forbidden, as well as public gatherings. In addition, retail shops, restaurants, cinemas, and gyms will be closed.

The first regional level lockdown was imposed last week in the nearby region of Kozani.

"The situation is critical. We need to strictly observe the measures. We have made great efforts in the past few months," Hardalias stressed during a statement broadcast by Greek national broadcaster ERT.

Four more regions in central and northern Greece also upgraded a notch below the regional lockdown level on Wednesday.

Greek officials have repeatedly said that all possible efforts will be made to avoid a nationwide full lockdown like the one imposed in spring for over a month, as it would take a heavy toll on the economy.

To bring life back to normal, countries, such as Britain, China, Russia and the United States, are racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccines. Enditem

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