Greece: compulsory to wear a mask, indoors or out after 882 cases

By 3 years ago

Greece will impose a night curfew in areas most affected by COVID-19, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday, announcing restrictions on movement in several areas of the country including Athens.

Earlier, authorities announced 882 new cases of coronavirus, a new peak, after 865 were reported on Wednesday.

Mitsotakis said movement would be banned from 12.30 a.m. to 5 a.m. in locations deemed high-risk and where elevated surveillance was necessary, based on a four-tier risk assessment by authorities. The measure would be in force from Saturday. Two regions in northern Greece, Kozani and Kastoria, are at the highest risk and regional lockdowns have already been announced, followed by other provinces of elevated surveillance in northern Greece and the region of Attica, where Athens is located.

Greece has recorded significantly lower numbers of COVID-19 than other countries in Europe, though cases started to rise in early October. Testing has also increased. "The objective is to restrict movement and night-time gatherings which are conducive to the spread of the virus. Perhaps it's less fun for a while, but it would mean more health in the longer term," Mitsotakis said.

Young people had a responsibility to help curb the spread, Mitsotakis said, adding that the state would be relentless in prosecuting businesses breaking the rules. "Now is not the time for secret parties, when this virus is having a party at the expense of our lives." "The data is clear, the spread of the virus is particularly among young people, and at the times and locations where they gather. But from there on it spreads into family units, affecting older people disproportionately."

Fifteen more deaths were registered on Thursday, authorities said, bringing the total to 549, many of them elderly. More than 90% of those who died had underlying health issues.

#Covid19 case breakdown

#Athens 290
#Thessaloniki 188

ISLANDS
#Crete 18 (Heraklion 10, Rethymno 4, Chania 4)
#Lesbos 17
#Naxos 3
#Corfu 2
#Evia 2
#Andros #Santorini #KeaKythnos #Sporades 1

Update: Covid cases in Kythera

After seemingly making it safely through the dangerous summer season, Kythera has finally suffered its first cases of Covid-19. Two cases were reported on Monday 19/10, triggering an immediate track and trace procedure; this resulted in a third case coming to light on Tuesday, and a fourth early on Wednesday. Of the four cases, at least two are understood to have been asymptomatic, while one concerned an elderly patient whose condition was regarded as serious enough to warrant evacuation to an Attica hospital by military C-130 transport aircraft in the evening of Wednesday 21/10.

All four cases are believed to have originated in Chora, and are apparently part of the same cluster of infections. The municipality has closed all its facilities to visitors, including the Citizens’ Advice Bureau (KEP) in Potamos, with services now only available by internet or phone.

A dangerous increase in infections has been registered across the country, with Wednesday achieving a new negative record of 865 new cases, mostly in Attica (331) and Thessaloniki (181). The great majority of new cases concern younger people, with an average age of 37, something which is clearly connected to behaviour rather than a renewed virulence or mutation in the virus. Today the government will announce new measures against the pandemic, one of which is rumoured to be a prohibition against travelling from one nomos (administrative region) to another; should it be implemented, it would not affect travel between Kythera and the capital.

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GCT Team