Authorities on Greek tourist haven Santorini began handing out free face masks to tourists Monday, as the Mediterranean country faces an upsurge of coronavirus cases. Nationwide figures show Greece had identified a record number of new COVID-19 infections, even as restrictions designed to limit the spread have come into force -- including on late opening for bars and restaurants beloved of holidaymakers. "We bought 30,000 masks, and today we handed out 500 for free to tourists as they were getting off ferries at the port," Santorini mayor Antonios Siglas told AFP. While masks are only required indoors across Greece, Siglas hopes the free ones "will encourage tourists to wear them in places with lots of people", like the narrow alleys typical of the Cyclades island group. Santorini, one of the most famous Greek tourist destinations, has so far reported a relatively low number of cases, with most concentrated in the capital Athens or Thessaloniki. Greek health authorities announced on Sunday 284 new coronavirus cases and two deaths, bringing the total to 8,664 infections and 242 deaths. Health officials attribute around 17 percent of new cases to tourists, saying that younger travellers may not have been sticking to infection control measures. The uptick in new virus cases has been observed since Greece reopened to tourism in mid-June, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis travelling to Santorini for the announcement. str-chv/tgb/txw