Update – 01/12/2020

As of the latest update by the Greek authorities, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 diagnosed cases in Greece is 105,271. 85 new deaths were reported raising the total number to 2,406. The number of patients treated in intensive care units stands at 600. 1,044 new cases were announced yesterday in Greece, maintaining the daily number close to 1,000. 255 of the new cases were found in the Attica region and 213 new cases in the Thessaloniki region.

Throughout the lockdown, Greece has consistently recorded an increase in daily case numbers, causing concern among officials that Greek citizens were not strictly following the state’s anti-virus measures. Pediatric epidemiologist Vana Papaevangelou stated in a press conference last week that the case numbers were indeed declining, but not at the rate that had been expected by experts. Monday’s case count may show that the transmission of the virus is beginning to decrease more rapidly now that the country has been in lockdown for nearly a month.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis noted that the situation in northern Greece, which was hit particularly hard by the coronavirus, had begun to improve on Monday. The hospitals in the region, especially in Thessaloniki, the country’s second largest city, have been under immense strain, often functioning at near capacity, due to the sheer number of Covid patients requiring treatment. Mitsotakis stated that hospitals in the region are now seeing a decrease in patients, and instances of transmission in northern Greece as a whole have lessened slightly. Although optimistic, PM Mitsotakis urged all Greek people to remain vigilant until the vaccine is released late this year, stating “no one should doubt that some difficult days still lie ahead.”

Greece announced on Monday the first locally-produced rapid antigen test for the novel coronavirus, in a development hailed by the Development Ministry as a “major success.” A part of a 2.9-million-euro research program funded by the Ministry, the test, which in just a few minutes can detect whether someone is a carrier of the virus, is the result of the collaboration between six research centers and four universities. Minister Christos Dimas noted the importance of being able to “utilize the exceptional human research potential that we have at our disposal in order to be able to make a significant contribution at the level of domestic research in tackling the fight against the coronavirus.”

Its patent from the Industrial Property Organization is pending, while the search for the company that will produce the testing kit is also under way, the Ministry said. The program, he stated, “puts Greece at the forefront of developments in the study of the virus and the production of knowledge for dealing with this health crisis.” He added that the rapid antigen test will improve the ability of Greek health authorities to carry out testing for the novel coronavirus on a mass scale.

Restrictions on domestic and international travel were extended on Monday in Greece, as the country struggles to contain the second wave of the novel coronavirus pandemic. In an announcement, the Civil Aviation Authority said that restrictions on domestic flights are being extended through December 7, allowing only essential travel for health, family or work-related reasons between the country’s airports. People returning to their main area of residence are also permitted to travel.

Restrictions on international travel, however, were extended until December 14. These include a ban on all flights between Greece and Turkey and Catalonia in Spain; flights to and from Albania and North Macedonia being conducted only through Athens International Airport; a weekly cap of 10,000 on the number of travelers allowed from Israel and a ceiling of 500 on arrivals of permanent residents only from Russia, who are also allowed to use the airports of Thessaloniki in northern Greece and Iraklio in Crete.

The ban on arrivals of non-European Union citizens also continues to apply, with the exception of nationals and residents of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay.

All passengers entering Greece from an international destination will have to show a negative Covid-19 test, taking with 72 hours before their flight, while both domestic and international passengers have to fill out a passenger locator form (PLF).

Regarding yesterday’s 1,044 cases:

255 cases were detected in the regional unit of Attica

213 cases were detected in the regional unit of Thessaloniki

7 cases were detected in the regional unit of Aitoloakarnania

8 cases were detected in the regional unit of Argolida

8 cases were detected in the regional unit of Arkadia

6 cases were detected in the regional unit of Arta

18 cases were detected in the regional unit of Achaia

4 cases were detected in the regional unit of Voiotia

5 cases were detected in the regional unit of Grevena

17 cases were detected in the regional unit of Drama

16 cases were detected in the regional unit of Evros

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Evia

4 cases were detected in the regional unit of Evritania

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Zakynthos

6 cases were detected in the regional unit of Ilia

26 cases were detected in the regional unit of Imathia

10 cases were detected in the regional unit of Iraklio

11 cases were detected in the regional unit of Ioannina

20 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kavala

6 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kalymnos

16 cases were detected in the regional unit of Karditsa

7 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kastoria

2 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kea-Kythnos

12 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kilkis

17 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kozani

3 cases were detected in the regional unit of Korinthia

2 cases were detected in the regional unit of Lakonia

49 cases were detected in the regional unit of Larissa

20 cases were detected in the regional unit of Lesvos

34 cases were detected in the regional unit of Magnisia

4 cases were detected in the regional unit of Messinia

11 cases were detected in the regional unit of Xanthi

36 cases were detected in the regional unit of Pella

39 cases were detected in the regional unit of Pieria

5 cases were detected in the regional unit of Rethimno

15 cases were detected in the regional unit of Rodopi

4 cases were detected in the regional unit of Rodos

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Samos

33 cases were detected in the regional unit of Serres

10 cases were detected in the regional unit of Sporades

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Syros

17 cases were detected in the regional unit of Trikala

6 cases were detected in the regional unit of Fthiotida

5 cases were detected in the regional unit of Florina

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Fokida

12 cases were detected in the regional unit of Chalkidiki

6 cases were detected in the regional unit of Chania

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Chios

17 cases remain under investigation

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