Update – 20/08/2020

As of the latest update by the Greek authorities yesterday, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 diagnosed cases in Greece is 7,684. The 217 new infections announced on Wednesday, show a continuation of the new upward trend. 3 new fatalities were reported, raising the death toll to 235. The median age of deceased patients was 77 years and most had underlying health problems. The number of patients treated in intensive care units stands at 28, while 140 patients have exited the intensive care unit.

Twelve residents and one employee in a nursing home in Evosmos, western Thessaloniki, have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a report by state broadcaster ERT3 on Wednesday. Nine of the patients who caught the virus were transferred to the Papageorgiou General Hospital, while three were taken to the Ippokrateio Hospital in Greece’s northern port city.

Regarding the cases reported yesterday:

• 16 were detected during the tests carried out at Greece’s entry points
• 6 are imported cases, which requested testing voluntarily
• 89 cases were detected in Attica region, 15 of which are related to travel within the country
• 44 cases were detected in Thessaloniki region, 2 of which are related to travel within the country
• 3 cases were detected in Aetolia-Acarnania
• 1 case was detected in Drama
• 2 cases were detected in Dodecanese
• 1 case was detected in Evros
• 1 case was detected in Zakynthos
• 2 cases were detected in Ilia
• 6 cases were detected in Imathia, 2 of which are related to recent travel within the country
• 1 case was detected in Kavala
• 7 cases were detected in Karditsa, 4 of which are associated with a confirmed case
• 1 case was detected in Kastoria
• 2 cases were detected in Kerkyra
• 1 case was detected in Kilkis
• 2 cases were detected in Kozani
• 5 cases were detected in Cyclades
• 3 cases were detected in Larissa
• 3 cases were detected in Lesvos
• 3 cases were detected in Magnesia
• 5 cases were detected in Xanthi
• 2 cases were detected in Rethymno
• 1 case was detected in Serres
• 1 case were detected in Pella
• 2 cases were detected in Fthiotis
• 1 case was detected in Fthiotis
• 1 case was detected in Chalkidiki
• 2 cases were detected in Chania
• 4 cases were detected in Chios, 1 of which is related to known influx

MEASURES/RESTRICTIONS

• Authorities have imposed new restrictions on the Aegean island of Mykonos and the northern Greek region of Halkidiki after a spike in Covid-19 cases. According to an announcement by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection, authorities have banned parties, open-air markets and religious processions. Additionally, gatherings must be limited to no more than nine people. There may be no more than four people at a restaurant, unless they are immediate family members in which case the maximum number is six people. The use of masks is mandatory in enclosed as well as open spaces. The measures will go into effect Friday and apply for 10 days.

• The Athens Urban Rail Transport Company (STASY) is planning to increase the number of random tests it has been conducting on employees of the Athens metro, tram, buses and trolley buses in the coming days, amid an anticipated spike in commuter traffic as city-dwellers return from their vacations. Meanwhile, inspections are to continue to ensure that commuters are complying with Health Ministry regulations stipulating the mandatory use of face masks on public transport. The frequency of services on the metro and bus routes is to be boosted in the coming days to accommodate rising commuter numbers.

• Health authorities are continuing tests on residents at the Vial camp on Chios after another three migrants tested positive for the coronavirus, following the infection of a Yemeni man and a camp employee last week, while two more camps on the mainland have been locked down following infections there. In addition to the five people infected at Vial, three people have tested positive for the coronavirus at a facility in Fylakio, in the northern region of Evros, and one in another facility near the city of Drama, according to Migration Ministry sources. Restrictions are in force at all migrant camps while a ban on movement has been imposed on those under lockdown.

TRAVEL

• Norway said on Wednesday it will impose a 10-day quarantine on all people arriving from Britain, Austria, Greece and Ireland from August 22 due to the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in those countries. To try to prevent a domestic resurgence of the coronavirus, Norway quarantines all travellers from countries with more than 20 confirmed new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population during the past two weeks.

• Similarly, Finland says it will tighten travel restrictions and reintroduce and step up border checks for arrivals from 10 countries starting Monday due to the worsening pandemic situation in Europe and elsewhere. The Finnish government says border checks will apply for passengers to and from Nordic neighbors Denmark, Iceland and Norway as well as Germany, Greece and Malta – all countries belonging to the European Union’s borderless Schengen area.

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