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Update – 04/12/2020

As of the latest update by the Greek authorities, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 diagnosed cases in Greece is 111.537. 100 new deaths were reported raising the total number to 2.706. The number of patients treated in intensive care units stands at 622. 1.882 new cases were announced yesterday in Greece, dropping the daily number below 2,000. 334 of the new cases were found in the Attica region and 428 new cases in the Thessaloniki region.

On Thursday, Greek government spokesperson Stelios Petsas announced that the country’s lockdown will be in effect until at least December 14. In an attempt to revive the economy for the holiday season, the Ministry of Development and Investment announced that stores selling exclusively seasonal Christmas items would be allowed to open their doors starting Monday, December 7.

In order to best distribute the vaccine, over 1,000 vaccination centers will be set up around the country, Petsas further announced. All vaccinations will be voluntary and will be offered at no cost to the public.

Although Greece’s economy will contract by 10 percent in 2020 due to the ramifications of the coronavirus, it is set to recover gradually in 2021, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

In 2022 Greece’s recovery is projected to accelerate, as the virus will be better controlled with a vaccine in general use by the public, restrictions being eased globally and the government implementing new investment projects. The OECD also said that extending and expanding support for households suffering income loss, would limit the drag on consumption and well-being. Additionally, extending and better targeting liquidity support would also help viable firms to stay in business.

 “I expect that we will have come out of the health crisis by the spring of 2021 and I expect a very strong economic recovery that we need to cover the lost ground as soon as possible […] when Covid is over, Greece “is one of the countries that will emerge stronger from this crisis while it has sufficient resources to continue to support the economy during the pandemic at least until the spring,” said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a discussion with the President of Columbia University Lee C. Bollinger. Mr. Mitsotakis also said that the government instills confidence in the markets and that “the European Central Bank will continue to provide liquidity support for as long as necessary.”

The CEO of Pfizer, whose origin is Thessaloniki, presented the company’s plans for investments in Greece. Pfizer investments will start from Thessaloniki with the creation of two hubs. In total, the two hubs will employ 600 people in the first phase, with the prospect that this number will double. According to the company’s planning, the center will be fully operational, from the first phase in 2021. The company has already received 15-20% of job applications from Greeks who have emigrated due to brain drain from the country and attempt to return.

The US pharmaceutical firm Moderna filed for Food and Drug administration approval for its coronavirus vaccine on Monday, just several days after its rival, Pfizer, sent its own vaccine to the FDA. If the emergency authorization is granted, vaccinations could begin as early as December 21, 2020, according to Stéphane Bancel, the company’s chief executive officer. the Moderna vaccine has been proven by data to be 100% effective in the prevention of “severe” Covid-19. 

The European Union’s Executive Commission on Wednesday kept up the pressure on member states to maintain their strict coronavirus protocols before the Christmas season. However, the Executive Commission did not explicitly ban travel.

Regarding the 1.882 new cases detected in Greece:

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

334 cases in the Attica Region

428 cases in Thessaloniki

9 cases in Etoloakarnania

1 case in Argolida

5 cases in Arcadia

1 case in Arta

17 cases in Achaia

7 cases in Voiotia

16 cases in Grevena

75 cases in Drama

28 cases in Evros

4 cases in Evia

8 cases in Evritania

3 cases in Ilia

71 cases in Imathia

15 cases in Heraklion

2 cases in Thasos

1 case in Thira

5 cases in Ioannina

49 cases in Kavala

3 cases in Kalymnos

43 cases in Karditsa

6 cases in Kastoria

4 cases in Corfu

1 case in Kefalonia

12 cases in Kilkis

39 cases in Kozani

4 cases in Corinth

3 cases in Laconia

121 cases in Larissa

1 case in Lasithi

24 cases in Lesvos

1 case in Lefkada

35 cases in Magnesia

9 cases in Messinia

2 cases in Milos

1 case in Naxos

50 cases in Xanthi

69 cases in Pella

110 cases in Pieria

7 cases in Preveza

5 cases in Rethymno

23 cases in Rodopi

1 case in Rhodes

2 cases in Samos

76 cases in Serres

1 case in Syros

38 cases in Trikala

16 cases in Fthiotida

10 cases in Florina

4 cases in Fokida

19 cases in Halkidiki

9 cases in Chania

6 cases in Chios

40 cases are under investigation.

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