Tourists heading to Greece this summer have been issued a double warning: a surge in Covid cases caused by a new variant and a scorching heatwave.
The country has seen a sharp rise in hospital admissions due to the new FLiRT Covid variant, prompting health officials to reinstate mask-wearing in some hospitals. Meanwhile, a blistering heatwave is gripping southern Europe, with temperatures soaring to potentially dangerous levels.
As cases climb and temperatures rise, holidaymakers are being advised to take extra precautions to protect themselves.
The President Association of Hospital Doctors’ Union of Athens and Piraeus Matina Pagoni told MEGA: ‘It’s summer, we’re going on vacation, we never said the coronavirus was gone.
‘The truth is that this year, compared to last year, the cases have nothing to do with it.
What are the symptoms of the new Covid FLiRT variants?
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Loss of taste or smell
- ‘Brain fog’ (feeling less wakeful and aware)
- Gastrointestinal symptoms (upset stomach, mild diarrhoea, vomiting)
‘There are too many, there are many hospitalisations and also deaths – 21-22 deaths are too many.’
The city of Thessaloniki has also seen a rise in cases through sewage testing.
The union also warned the outbreak is expected to continue until the end of July.