Surging cases of Covid-19 are placing Greece's health system under increasing pressure.
According to Michalis Giannakos, the president of the Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Employees (POEDIN), hospitals in Athens “are at war, without preparation.”
The number of intubated patients is increasing by the day, while hospital admissions of patients with coronavirus are continuing apace.
The number of intubated patients nationwide rose to 466 on Sunday, while there were 293 new hospital admissions over the previous 24 hours.
Giannakos also complained that several covid-19 patients are being treated together with patients suffering from other illnesses.
"In the emergency department, patients judged to be suspected covid-19 positive, wait more than 8 hours to be treated for symptoms such as fever or cough," he said.
"The system is failing. He who saves himself will be saved. The private sector is not recruited and no one is negotiating for it. Great care. And don't blame the citizens. They pay for the disorganisation of the system," Giannakos concluded.
SMS 13033 for movement during lockdown
All individuals residing in Greece will be required to send an SMS text message to 13033 in order to obtain permission to leave their homes during the lockdown.
The SMS to 13033 should be formatted as follows: X (one of the digits 1-6 corresponding to the activities below), name, surname and address.
The six reasons (you must SMS) are:
- Visit to a pharmacy or visit to a doctor if necessary
- Visit to a supermarket or stores for essential supplies
- Visit to a bank if e-banking transactions are not possible
- Visit to people needing assistance or escorting children to and from school
- Attending a funeral, as per the conditions provided by the law, or visiting children in case of divorced parents
- Physical exercise outdoors or up to two persons taking their pet for a walk while always observing a 1.5-metre distance.
2-km radius
Individuals are not allowed to travel beyond 2 kilometres of their home to visit supermarkets, food stores and other essential goods shops or to go to the bank.
Similarly, personal exercise or pet walking must be carried out close to one’s home.
Latest covid-19 numbers in Greece
Greece recorded 1,142 new cases of COVID-19 in the latest 24-hour reporting period.
This raises the total number of cases to 205,120.
Four hundred and sixty-six individuals are in ICU. Their median age is 68 years. 84.3% have an underlying condition or are aged 70 years and above.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, 1,408 patients have been discharged from the ICU.
The country’s pandemic death toll stands at 6,758. The median age of all was 79 years and 95.8% of the deceased had an underlying condition and/or age of 70 years or more.
*More on GCT: Greek PM visits Sotiria Hospital in Athens to thank medical staff
