Professor of Pulmonology at the University of Crete, Nikos Tzanakis, made a frightening prediction by saying that up to 600,000 could be infected with COVID-19 during this fourth wave.
Assuming that the vaccination rate does not increase and the health protocols are not sufficiently observed, the model that the professor uses found an average of 4,500 new COVID-19 cases up until August 15.
If the vaccination rate was increased and the measures were followed, the number of cases would amount to 3,000-3,500 cases, which, as he said, is a fairly tolerable level at the moment.
"Those who are not vaccinated should not worry. They will be vaccinated naturally but painfully," he said on SKAI.
"The virus will pick them up," the professor warned, adding: "In this wave, 1/3rd of the unvaccinated will get sick. This corresponds to 400,000-600,000 people."
In terms of hospitalisation, he pointed out that the effect of the 4th wave has begun to become apparent, as there is an increase in new patients, ranging from 100-120 per day.
As he said, almost 99% of the new imports concern citizens who are either unvaccinated or vaccinated only with the first dose, and young with a few exceptions.
"Even 20-year-olds and 25-year-olds are being treated. Of my patients who call me, no one is over 40 years old," he underlined.
In fact, according to estimates by Tzanakis, the number of new COVID-19 admissions will reach 200-300 per day at the end of July and early August, without however being able to predict what the picture will be in the Intensive Care Units.
As he explained, there are two factors that can have a favorable scenario in dealing with the fourth wave of COVID-19.
"First, they are young people who usually go through it without further difficulty. Second, people who use intubation are over 50, and especially over 60 and 70, are vaccinated.
"60% of people over the age of 55 are now fully vaccinated.
"In other words, if we go to the critical ages, to those over 70, this percentage is close to 75%.
"Therefore, the soil that the virus has to thresh is smaller," he stressed.
For children, the professor of Pulmonology, noted that there are too many who are hospitalised in Children's hospitals, adding that infants under one year of age are at a dangerous age to show very bad complications.
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