An excavator digs a hole for an umbrella on Alimos organized beach, south of Athens, Greece, on May 14, 2020. Greek officials announced on Wednesday that as of May 16 the country's 515 organized beaches will open under restrictions to avoid overcrowding. Greece's Health Ministry reported on Thursday that the number of COVID-19 infections reached 2,770 and there have been 156 deaths since the start of the outbreak in the country on Feb. 26. (Photo by Lefteris Partsalis/Xinhua)

ATHENS, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Greece's Health Ministry reported on Thursday that the number of coronavirus infections reached 2,770 and there have been 156 deaths since the start of the outbreak in the country on Feb. 26.

Over the past 24 hours, ten new cases have been diagnosed and one patient has died, officials said at a regular press briefing.

Currently, 24 people are being treated in intensive care units (ICUs), and 90 have been discharged from ICUs.

Infectious diseases expert Professor Sotiris Tsidoras, coronavirus spokesman of the Greek Health Ministry, said that four separate studies are being conducted in the country to help scientists gain a better understanding of the percentage of the population that has been infected with the novel coronavirus.

So far, the Greek authorities have conducted 116,233 diagnostic tests, he said.

Tsidoras agreed with the World Health Organization's (WHO) recent prediction that the coronavirus may never go away even after a vaccine is found.

Greece was in a full coronavirus lockdown between March 23 and May 4, when the government started to gradually lift the restrictions.

Aerial photo taken on May 14, 2020 shows people enjoying their leisure on Alimos public beach, south of Athens, Greece. Greek officials announced on Wednesday that as of May 16 the country's 515 organized beaches will open under restrictions to avoid overcrowding. Greece's Health Ministry reported on Thursday that the number of COVID-19 infections reached 2,770 and there have been 156 deaths since the start of the outbreak in the country on Feb. 26. (Photo by Lefteris Partsalis/Xinhua)

Workers install an umbrella on Alimos organized beach, south of Athens, Greece, on May 14, 2020. Greek officials announced on Wednesday that as of May 16 the country's 515 organized beaches will open under restrictions to avoid overcrowding. Greece's Health Ministry reported on Thursday that the number of COVID-19 infections reached 2,770 and there have been 156 deaths since the start of the outbreak in the country on Feb. 26. (Photo by Lefteris Partsalis/Xinhua)

Photo taken on May 14, 2020 shows umbrellas installed with a distance from each other on Vouliagmeni organized beach, Greece. Greek officials announced on Wednesday that as of May 16 the country's 515 organized beaches will open under restrictions to avoid overcrowding. Greece's Health Ministry reported on Thursday that the number of COVID-19 infections reached 2,770 and there have been 156 deaths since the start of the outbreak in the country on Feb. 26. (Photo by Lefteris Partsalis/Xinhua)

Aerial photo taken on May 14, 2020 shows workers installing umbrellas with a distance from each other on Alimos organized beach, south of Athens, Greece. Greek officials announced on Wednesday that as of May 16 the country's 515 organized beaches will open under restrictions to avoid overcrowding. Greece's Health Ministry reported on Thursday that the number of COVID-19 infections reached 2,770 and there have been 156 deaths since the start of the outbreak in the country on Feb. 26. (Photo by Lefteris Partsalis/Xinhua)

Aerial photo taken on May 14, 2020 shows workers installing umbrellas with a distance from each other on Alimos organized beach, south of Athens, Greece. Greek officials announced on Wednesday that as of May 16 the country's 515 organized beaches will open under restrictions to avoid overcrowding. Greece's Health Ministry reported on Thursday that the number of COVID-19 infections reached 2,770 and there have been 156 deaths since the start of the outbreak in the country on Feb. 26. (Photo by Lefteris Partsalis/Xinhua)