Greece records massive coronavirus spike

Greece recorded 262 new cases of COVID-19 in the latest 24-hour reporting period, its highest daily tally since the start of the outbreak in the country.

This raises the total number of cases to 6,177.

1,528 are considered to be related to travel from abroad and 3,002 are related to an already known case.

On Monday, Greece recorded 203 COVID-19 cases, which was recorded as the single largest daily number of cases since the pandemic began.

The previous highest number reported in a single day was 156 cases, which was recorded in April.

Geographical distribution of new cases:

• 22 were identified after checks at the country’s entrance gates
• 7 other important cases (who voluntarily got tested)
• 85 cases in Thessaloniki (36 of them are related to the cluster of the nursing home)
• 66 cases in Attica
• 11 cases in Magnisia
• 8 cases in Halkidiki
• 7 cases in Xanthi
• 7 cases in Pella
• 5 cases in Larissa
• 5 cases in PIeria
• 5 cases in Serres
• 4 cases in  Florina
• 3 cases in Imathia
• 3 cases in Kastoria
• 3 cases in Lakonia
• 3 cases in Cyclades
• 2 cases in Arkadia
• 2 cases in Heraklio
• 1 case in Aitoloakarnania
• 1 case in Grevena
• 1 case in Drama
• 1 case in Evia
• 1 case in Ilia
• 1 case in Kozani
• 1 case in Corfu
• 1 case in Kefalonia
• 1 case in Kilkis
• 1 case in Corinth
• 1 case in Evros
• 1 case in Lasithi
• 1 case in Preveza
• 1 case in Trikala

Of 11,136 tests in the last 24 hours, 2.36% were positive.

There were slightly more tests carried out in the last 24 hours, but the number, is not so high to justify the “explosion” of new cases.

Of the new cases, 66 were identified in the Attica region and 85 in the Thessaloniki region.

Twenty-four individuals are in ICU. Their median age is 63 years.

The country’s pandemic death toll remains at 216. The median age of all was 76 years and 95.8% had an underlying condition and/or was aged 70+.

Total coronavirus tests since the beginning of the outbreak in February is 679,785.

Meanwhile, Russia developed the first vaccine ‘Sputnik V’ offering “sustainable immunity” against the coronavirus, President Vladimir Putin announced on Tuesday.

Putin emphasised that the ‘Sputnik V’ vaccine underwent the necessary tests and has proven efficient, offering a lasting immunity from the coronavirus. He further called it “a very important step for the world.”

The vaccine was developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute. One of Putin’s daughters has reportedly already been vaccinated with ‘Sputnik V’, despite clinical trials still continuing.

Mass production is expected to start in September and mass vaccination in October.