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Update – 18/11/2021

corona virus

As of the latest update by the Greek authorities, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 diagnosed cases in Greece 853,841. 87 new deaths were reported raising the total number to 17,012. The number of patients treated in intensive care units is currently 561. 6,682 new cases were announced yesterday in Greece. 1,632 of the new cases were found in the Attica region and 1,148 new cases in the Thessaloniki region.

Almost 11,000 cases of Covid-19 were reported in people aged 4 to 18 in the week of November 8-14, confirming the high epidemiological load in the country.

According to the data published Wednesday by National Organization for Public Health (EODY), the highest positivity according to the ratio of tests to cases was recorded in the regional units of Kozani, Larissa, Magnesia, Pella and Serres.

Aggregate data for the same week puts the positivity rate at 1.77% out of a total of 2,613,039 PCR and rapid antigen tests and 0.50% out of a total of 2,528,885 self-tests. Across all tests, the positivity rate was 0.90%.

At the same time, 2,873 patients with Covid-19 were admitted to hospital, while 1,904 Covid patients were discharged. In other words, three parents were admitted for every two discharged.

The data also shows that the total number of patients aged 4-18 was 10,729, accounting for 23% of all cases, up 4.55% on the previous week.

The number of coronavirus-related deaths reported last weekend served as a painful wake-up call about the terrible situation the country is in. Just to paint a picture, Greece reported 150 fatalities in 48 hours on Saturday and Sunday, when Italy, with five times its population, had 78. And what this means is that Greece has a very, very big problem, no matter the efforts of some to whitewash the truth.

The size and severity of the problem is not news: The data reported on the course of the pandemic every day are irrefutable and the agonized pleas of doctors and officials on the need for vaccination relentless. No one who has refused the vaccine can claim not to have been informed about the coronavirus and its consequences. All the talk about the authorities’ failure to communicate with those sections of the population that continue to resist the vaccine is nothing more than a poor excuse, without foundation. In fact, it shows a complete denial of the truth about the makeup and mentality of Greek society.

Our experience with Covid-19 so far allows no doubt as to the disease’s deadly and devastating effects and the virus’ incredible adaptability and its transmissibility, which Delta variant has made even stronger. These factors are even more evident in the fourth wave of the pandemic that is lashing Europe as a whole – to a greater or smaller extent – right now. More recent experience has also taught us that the vaccines basically protect us from becoming gravely ill, but not, unfortunately, for a very long time, which is why a booster shot is essential six months after the initial vaccination, especially for older and more vulnerable people.

That said, we know that the large number of infections in Greece is due to the equally large number of people who continue to defy vaccination because they believe in pseudoscience, superstitions and conspiracy theories, because they’re influenced by priests with medieval ideas, because they believe rumor and innuendo etc. What that tells us, though, is that the standard is very low among a large part of the population. Let’s just admit it already, instead of boasting about the glorious past and other convenient excuses. And the worst part of it is that this “class” of Greeks has literally blossomed thanks to the general sense of impunity that has always prevailed in society, and gone on to become part of the system and to determine day-to-day life to a significant degree – and politicians and the media are to blame.

All of this could be said to come under the catchphrase “This is Greece.” Specifically, the unacceptably large number of fatalities is explained by the fact that many unvaccinated Covid-19 sufferers wait too long to seek help and often end up in hospital when it’s too late for anything to be done. But could it also be in some way due to the unbearable physical, mental and emotional strain sustained by medical staff who have been fighting this virus without rest for nearly two years? If so, the problem is even bigger and more insurmountable.

Rather than sweeping across-the-board interventions, the government is considering a series of targeted moves to increase vaccinations, which is the ultimate goal.

The reason it is not looking at introducing more measures is because an analysis of last week’s data suggests that the pandemic has most probably reached its peak and will start to loosen its grip in early December.

Moreover, the large increase in vaccinations as of late is creating the conditions down the line for the completion of the coveted wall of immunity.

The targeted moves by the government are expected during the week.

The first intervention under consideration, which is at the moment the most likely, concerns moves to ensure that people over 65 get their booster shots.

In more detail, the 6,682 new cases detected per Regional Unit:

  • Attica 1,632
    • Eastern Attica 226
    • Northern Sector of Athens  196
    • West Attica 64
    • Western Sector of Athens 237
    • Central Sector of Athens 495
    • Southern Sector of Athens 192
    • Piraeus 205
    • Islands 17
  • Thessaloniki 1,148
  • Mount Athos 7
  • Etoloakarnania 134
  • Argolida 54
  • Arcadia 35
  • Arta 63
  • Achaia 242
  • Boeotia 93
  • Grevena 44
  • Drama 72
  • Evros 143
  • Evia 49
  • Evritania 16
  • Zakynthos 14
  • Ilia 26
  • Imathia 95
  • Heraklion 167
  • Thassos 10
  • Thesprotia 24
  • Thira 2
  • Ithaca 1
  • Ioannina 116
  • Kavala 49
  • Kalymnos 12
  • Karditsa 79
  • Karpathos 1
  • Kastoria 40
  • Kea – Kythnos 1
  • Corfu 78
  • Kefalonia 3
  • Kilkis 71
  • Kozani 161
  • Corinth 69
  • Kos 15
  • Laconia 37
  • Larissa 280
  • Lasithi 26
  • Lesvos 56
  • Lefkada 7
  • Lemnos 8
  • Magnesia 181
  • Messinia 76
  • Mykonos 5
  • Naxos 1
  • Xanthi 88
  • Paros 3
  • Pella 139
  • Pieria 92
  • Preveza 39
  • Rethymnon 54
  • Rodopi 49
  • Rhodes 45
  • Samos 4
  • Serres 151
  • Sporades 11
  • Syros 1
  • Tinos 1
  • Trikala 98
  • Fthiotida 113
  • Florina 36
  • Fokida 19
  • Chalkidiki 79
  • Chania 38
  • Chios 1
  • Under investigation 170

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