Update – 24/05/2021
May 24, 2021
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As of the latest update by the Greek authorities, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 diagnosed cases in Greece is 389,804. 38 new deaths were reported raising the total number to 11,734. The number of patients treated in intensive care units is currently 569. 877 new cases were announced yesterday in Greece. 470 of the new cases were found in the Attica region and 90 new cases in the Thessaloniki region.
Two blood clotting incidents which have occurred in Greece recently are linked to the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, the National Organisation for Medicines (EOF) announced on Friday.
Overall, there have been three recent major blood clotting incidents in Greece, but it is unclear if the third was caused by AstraZeneca inoculation.
AstraZeneca cause of blood clotting
The first blood clotting incident involving the AstraZeneca vaccine was also extremely unique. A 35-year-old man from Ierapetra on Crete suffered not one, but two blood clots following his vaccine against the coronavirus.
This is reportedly not only the only time an individual has gotten a double blood clot from the vaccine in Greece, but also the rest of Europe. He was hospitalized after suffering the first blood clot in his leg only a few days after receiving the jab, and while he was in hospital a second clot was discovered in a blood vessel that leads to the brain. Thankfully, his life is reportedly out of danger.
Another person on Crete has unfortunately has a blood clot which is likely linked to the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine. A 44-year-old woman was in serious condition at the island’s General University Hospital of Iraklio with a rare but severe type of blood clot (vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia, or VITT). This incident is the second that has been found to be linked to the vaccine by the EOF.
There has also been a third blood clotting incident, also being treated in the General University Hospital of Iraklio, whose causes are so far unclear. Authorities are still investigating the case of a 47-year-old woman who reportedly became paralyzed after receiving the vaccine.
EMA: Vaccine benefits outweigh risks
The drug regulatory authority of the EU, the European Medicines Agency, released the results of its intensive investigation into the safety of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine in April, saying its benefits still outweighed any potential risk of blood clot formation.
The drug regulator admitted that it found a “possible link” between the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine and a rare clotting disorder but EMA officials refused to impose any new age restrictions, saying the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine still outweigh risks.
The EMA described the clots which have occurred as “very rare” side effects. It said most of the cases reported have occurred in women under 60, and within two weeks of vaccination.
However, based on the currently available evidence, it was not able to identify specific risk factors.
Members of the Greek National Committee of Vaccinations added that they are working with the Greek Pharmaceutical Organization to continuously monitor the safety of vaccines, following and reviewing any instances of possible side effects of Covid-19 vaccines.
The UK is most likely going to keep Greece and its islands on its mandatory quarantine upon return list, even following the first review of the regulations, which will take place on June 7. Great Britain’s “Green list” currently includes only 12 destinations for which a lengthy quarantine is not mandatory for travelers when they return to the UK.
UK Quarantine List
The UK government has issued a tiered list of countries, ranging from good-to-go “Green list” countries all the way to “Red list” countries, which should not be visited at all unless travel is unavoidable.
“Green list” countries will require travelers to test negative before returning to the UK, as well as undergo a PCR test two days after arrival. The countries on this list will not require a quarantine for travelers when they arrive back in the UK.
The decision of the UK’s Ministry of Transport stated that tourists from the UK are only able to travel freely to Portugal, Gibraltar, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands.
The same list also includes small islands in the South Georgia and the South Sandwich archipelago, as well as the islands of Agia Eleni, Tristan de Cunha and Ascension Island.
“Amber” light nations will require 10 days of isolation upon return to the UK. Vacationers will also need a negative test before their return flight and two PCR tests after arrival — one on day two and the second on day eight. In this tier, there is also the option to take a PCR test on day five of quarantine in order to be allowed to exit quarantine early, which could be a relief for British travelers returning from Greece.
Unfortunately, Greece and its islands have been place on the Amber list despite hopes that islands could be considered separately from the mainland for “Green” status.
Even following a highly ambitious and successful vaccination campaign on islands to make them coronavirus “safe havens,” the UK continues to see them as not distinct from the mainland. According to recent reports, this is unlikely to change when the UK government revisits its lists on June 7.
Furthermore, the UK quarantine list came with the warning that ministers expect even “Amber list” countries to be treated as not viable options for vacation.
“It is very, very clear – you should not be going to an ‘Amber list’ country except for some extreme circumstance, such as the serious illness of a family member. You should not be going to an ‘Amber list’ country on holiday,” said Boris Johnson during the Prime Minister’s Question Time on May 19.
Vaccine Passports for Greeks on the horizon
The Digital Green Certificate is aimed at allowing free movement within the European Union even during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. They will be available in both physical and digital forms and will be free for all EU residents.
The certificate will be used to show whether the holder has been vaccinated against Covid-19, has received a negative test result or has recovered from it.
The vaccination passport will operate using unique QR codes in order to guarantee their authenticity.
Newest information shows that Greece will be ready to start issuing the certificate by June 1, as it has already put its digital platform through testing. The rest of the European Union will likely start to make use of the vaccine passport by June 20.
When the online platform opens to Greeks on gov.gr, all citizens will be able to log on using either their personal Taxisnet passwords or their AMKA (Social Security) number. They can then be issued a “Digital Green Certificate,” which is being hailed as the saving grace of the European travel industry.
However, these vaccine passports will not be mandatory for travel unlike other coronavirus regulations such as testing.
In more detail, the 877 new cases detected per Regional Unit:
