Update – 10/11/2020

As of the latest update by the Greek authorities on Monday, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 diagnosed cases in Greece is 58,187. 41 new deaths were reported raising the total number to 825. The number of patients treated in intensive care units stands at 239. 1,490 new cases were announced yesterday in Greece, maintaining the daily number above 1,000. 390 of the new cases were found in the Attica region and 413 were found in the Thessaloniki region.

Streets in many parts of Athens were much busier on the first weekday of the new lockdown on Monday compared to the spring, the Traffic Police said, adding that 70% of motorists who were stopped and questioned as to why they were circulating claimed to be going to work and the remaining 30% were carrying out errands for someone in need of help. “Traffic was indeed much heavier than it was during the spring lockdown, but that said, teleworking has not gained ground and elementary schools are still open. This is why the phenomenon eased after people got to work and school had started,” a Hellenic Police (ELAS) official stated on Monday, saying that traffic was markedly reduced after 9.30 a.m. compared to earlier in the day.

Pfizer Inc on Monday said its experimental vaccine was more than 90% effective in preventing Covid-19 based on initial data from a large study, a major victory in the fight against a pandemic that has killed over 1 million people, roiled the world’s economy and upended daily life. Pfizer and German partner BioNTech SE are the first drugmakers to show successful data from a large-scale clinical trial of a coronavirus vaccine. The companies said they have so far found no serious safety concerns and expect to seek US emergency use authorization later this month. If authorized, the number of vaccine doses will initially be limited. Many questions also remain including how long the vaccine will provide protection. However, the news provides hope that other vaccines in development against the novel coronavirus may also prove effective.

The Greek economy will experience “a very robust” recovery once the vaccine for the coronavirus is found, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during the opening of the two-day online 5th EU-Arab World Summit on Monday. “In Greece, savings are increasing, which means that people will want to spend when the pandemic is over. And businesses will want to invest. And smart companies are already investing,” he said in an online discussion with CNN journalist John Defterios.

More than a dozen people have been indicted for inciting disobedience and violating measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. More specifically, 14 people were detained by police for protesting against the lockdown on Sunday afternoon in Syntagma Square without wearing masks. They appeared before a prosecutor on Monday and their trial was adjourned until Wednesday. According to the Hellenic Police, the detainees were not wearing masks and had violated the lockdown restrictions. For each of these violations, they were fined 300 euros and taken to the Syntagma Police Department, where a case was filed against them.

Greece’s virtual classes hit a snag as soon as they restarted Monday, as thousands of middle and high school students experienced problems signing into the online education platform. Education Ministry sources claimed that problems were most likely caused by Webex, the video-conferencing app used for the online courses, adding that ministry networks were fully operational. With middle and high schools in lockdown, it is mandatory for students to participate in remote classes, according to a series of circulars issued by the ministry.

Police in Athens broke up a party that was being held in blatant violation of the measures designed to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the early hours of Monday. About 30 people were at the party that was held in a small hotel on Syngrou Avenue in Neos Kosmos. Police intervened to bring the illegal festivities to an end at around 2.30 a.m. on Monday. Officers issued 30 fines for violation of coronavirus restrictions. The party organizer, a 24-year-old woman, was charged under article 285 of the penal code regarding the violation of measures for prevention of diseases and for disturbing the peace.

Government spokesman Stelios Petsas on Monday defended a decision by the conservative administration to impose a three-week lockdown to stem a jump in coronavirus infections. Speaking during a press conference, Petsas said the restrictions on movement were necessary “to avert a worse crisis.” [“The objective was] to save lives and prevent the health system from becoming oversaturated,” he said. Petsas said that bending down the epidemiological curve will create the conditions for a “more normal Christmas holiday season” for businesses as well as consumers. During the same briefing Petsas said that the customary march commemorating the November 17, 1973, Athens Polytechnic student uprising against the military dictatorship, will not be taking place this year.

Officials said Monday a coronavirus outbreak has infected at least 65 individuals at the prison of Diavata, near Lamia, in central Greece. Officials said that testing has so far revealed 59 inmates among 470 at the prison tested positive for the virus. Six staff members also tested positive. About half of the prison’s population have been tested so far.

Government spokesman Stelios Petsas Monday vowed stricter inspections after data suggested a big number of citizens were abusing lockdown exceptions. He said authorities had received more than one million text messages after 9 p.m. Sunday from people requesting permission to venture out of their homes so as to walk a pet or get physical exercise. “Such abuse will be met with extended and strict inspections,” Petsas told a press briefing. “Instead of having to pay fines, everyone is urged to abide with instructions so that we exit the lockdown as quickly as possible,” he said.

Regarding yesterday’s 1,490 cases:

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

2 cases took the test voluntarily

390 cases were detected in the regional unit of Attica

413 cases were detected in the regional unit of Thessaloniki

5 cases were detected in the regional unit of Aitoloakarnania

2 cases were detected in the regional unit of Argolida

7 cases were detected in the regional unit of Arkadia

7 cases were detected in the regional unit of Arta

25 cases were detected in the regional unit of Achaia

4 cases were detected in the regional unit of Voiotia

8 cases were detected in the regional unit of Grevena

24 cases were detected in the regional unit of Drama

54 cases were detected in the regional unit of Evros

9 cases were detected in the regional unit of Evoia

11 cases were detected in the regional unit of Ilia

46 cases were detected in the regional unit of Imathia

14 cases were detected in the regional unit of Iraklio

8 cases were detected in the regional unit of Thesprotia

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Thira

8 cases were detected in the regional unit of Ioannina

34 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kavala

4 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kastoria

2 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kea

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Kerkyra

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Kefalonia

11 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kilkis

23 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kozani

11 cases were detected in the regional unit of Korinthos

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Lakonia

63 cases were detected in the regional unit of Larissa

6 cases were detected in the regional unit of Lasithi

19 cases were detected in the regional unit of Lesvos

27 cases were detected in the regional unit of Magnisia

6 cases were detected in the regional unit of Messinia

6 cases were detected in the regional unit of Xanthi

35 cases were detected in the regional unit of Pellas

15 cases were detected in the regional unit of Pieria

2 cases were detected in the regional unit of Preveza

8 cases were detected in the regional unit of Rodopi

6 cases were detected in the regional unit of Rodos

3 cases were detected in the regional unit of Samos

49 cases were detected in the regional unit of Serres

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Siros

2 cases were detected in the regional unit of Tinos

12 cases were detected in the regional unit of Trikala

29 cases were detected in the regional unit of Florina

14 cases were detected in the regional unit of Fokida

5 cases were detected in the regional unit of Chalkidiki

11 cases were detected in the regional unit of Chania

2 cases were detected in the regional unit of Chios

18 cases remain under investigation

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