Update – 03/12/2020

As of the latest update by the Greek authorities, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 diagnosed cases in Greece is 109,655. 89 new deaths were reported raising the total number to 2,606. The number of patients treated in intensive care units stands at 600. 2,186 new cases were announced yesterday in Greece, maintaining the daily number above 2,000. 375 of the new cases were found in the Attica region and 453 new cases in the Thessaloniki region.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsostakis said bars and clubs will only reopen when vaccines for Covid-19 have been made available, while restaurants and retail stores will open gradually and with many restrictions. “We cannot have people crowding in bars until we have the vaccines,” he told the 31st Greek Economic Summit on Wednesday. “Every lockdown has consequences on the economy, but our priority has been to save lives.”

The persistently high number of infection and intubations means Greece is heading for a new extension of the lockdown by at least another week, until December 14, with the relevant announcements expected on Thursday or Friday. Consequently, the government’s roadmap for loosening the restrictions, which will be presented by the prime minister is pushed back, when there will be clear evidence that the second wave is under control.

In the discussion, Mitsotakis also spoke about the companies that invested in Greece during the pandemic and the incentives offered by the government. “The pandemic has made us wiser, and while facing a difficult crisis we can see both our strong and weak points, but we are even more dedicated to our reforms agenda,” he said. “With the help of the Recovery Fund, we will not miss the opportunity to restructure the country and forge ahead,” Mitsotakis said.

Despite the expectations of health experts, coronavirus cases and deaths are remaining high, putting discussions about a gradual easing of the lockdown on hold. However, a message of optimism was sent out on Tuesday by Sotiris Tsiodras, infectious diseases professor at Athens University and the head of the Healthy Ministry’s Committee of Experts for the new coronavirus.

“We will win. Because as humanity we have learned to win. We already have optimistic data from vaccines. There is definitely light at the end of the tunnel as long as we have solidarity, respect for each other and move forward together,” he said during an online event organized by the Greek association of people living with HIV, Positive Voice, at the Onassis Foundation.

The UK has become the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for widespread use. British regulator MHRA, says the shot, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19 illness, is safe for roll out beginning next week. Immunizations could start within days for people in high priority groups. Thessaloniki-born Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla hailed the news in a tweet and added that the company expects further regulatory actions across the globe in the coming days and weeks.

The UK has already ordered 40 million doses – enough to vaccinate 20 million people, with two shots each. Around 10 million doses should be available soon, with the first doses arriving in the UK in the coming days. It is the fastest-ever vaccine to go from concept to reality, taking only 10 months to follow the same developmental steps that normally span a decade.

Regarding yesterday’s 2,186 cases:

28 were detected during the tests carried out at Greece’s entry points

375 cases were detected in the regional unit of Attica

453 cases were detected in the regional unit of Thessaloniki

18 cases were detected in the regional unit of Aitoloakarnania

4 cases were detected in the regional unit of Argolida

14 cases were detected in the regional unit of Arkadia

5 cases were detected in the regional unit of Arta

23 cases were detected in the regional unit of Achaia

12 cases were detected in the regional unit of Voiotia

11 cases were detected in the regional unit of Grevena

70 cases were detected in the regional unit of Drama

49 cases were detected in the regional unit of Evros

10 cases were detected in the regional unit of Evia

10 cases were detected in the regional unit of Evritania

4 cases were detected in the regional unit of Zakynthos

4 cases were detected in the regional unit of Ilia

86 cases were detected in the regional unit of Imathia

21 cases were detected in the regional unit of Iraklio

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Thesprotia

9 cases were detected in the regional unit of Ioannina

65 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kavala

2 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kalymnos

41 cases were detected in the regional unit of Karditsa

10 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kastoria

3 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kerkyra

21 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kilkis

33 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kozani

2 cases were detected in the regional unit of Korinthia

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Kos

9 cases were detected in the regional unit of Lakonia

129 cases were detected in the regional unit of Larissa

17 cases were detected in the regional unit of Lesvos

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Limnos

45 cases were detected in the regional unit of Magnisia

12 cases were detected in the regional unit of Messinia

59 cases were detected in the regional unit of Xanthi

115 cases were detected in the regional unit of Pella

71 cases were detected in the regional unit of Pieria

7 cases were detected in the regional unit of Preveza

5 cases were detected in the regional unit of Rethimno

40 cases were detected in the regional unit of Rodopi

6 cases were detected in the regional unit of Rodos

54 cases were detected in the regional unit of Serres

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Sporades

57 cases were detected in the regional unit of Trikala

13 cases were detected in the regional unit of Fthiotida

46 cases were detected in the regional unit of Florina

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Fokida

29 cases were detected in the regional unit of Chalkidiki

11 cases were detected in the regional unit of Chania

7 cases were detected in the regional unit of Chios

66 cases remain under investigation

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