Greece is declaring a three-week nationwide lockdown to try to lower the number of COVID-19 cases, Reuters reported.

“I preferred to take drastic measures,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.

According to the new restrictions, retail stores will be closed, and only supermarkets and pharmacies will remain open. Civilians will need temporary permission to go out to the streets. Primary schools will remain open, while middle schools will be closed.

The number of cases went up in October. On Wednesday, Greece reported 2,646 cases, which is the highest daily indicator since the outbreak of the virus. Currently, 673 Greek patients have died from COVID-19.