Update – 25/11/2020

As of the latest update by the Greek authorities on Sunday, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 diagnosed cases in Greece is 95,137. 101 new deaths were reported raising the total number to 1,815. The number of patients treated in intensive care units stands at 562. 2,135 new cases were announced yesterday in Greece, raising the daily number above 2,000. 401 of the new cases were found in the Attica region and 607 new cases in the Thessaloniki region.

Greece’s national health system is currently under immense strain as ICUs reached 86% capacity across the country on Monday. In Thessaloniki, where hospitals have been inundated by patients with the virus, ICUs are functioning at an alarming 99% capacity. In Attica, home to the capital city of Athens, ICUs are currently at 81% capacity. Considering the startling virus figures released as of late, Greek government spokesperson Stelios Petsas announced on Tuesday that the country’s original December 1 reopening date after the national lockdown is “not realistic.”

Greece is unlikely to be in a position to lift a ban on non-essential travel between different regions of the country and other restrictions imposed as part of the lockdown that was originally foreseen running until December 1, the government spokesman said on Tuesday morning. Speaking on Antenna television, Stelios Petsas said that lifting restrictions on domestic travel before coronavirus number drop significantly, in the runup to the holiday season, risks putting an unnecessary burden on parts of the country that have been seeing lower transmission rates. Petsas said that when restrictions are lifted, this will be a gradual process that will start with the reopening of schools and random testing among staff and students. Retail commerce will likely follow, though strict rules will have to apply in terms of staff and customer numbers. The government is also hoping to allow restaurants and perhaps cafes to reopen for the holidays, Petsas said, though he added that this is highly unlikely that bars will be included in that round of easing.

The week ahead is seen as crucial by experts for ascertaining whether the nationwide lockdown imposed earlier this month is starting to yield results by flattening the transmission curve and easing pressure on the public health system, paving the way for a gradual lifting of restrictions.

Although he did not give a firm date for the country’s reopening, Petsas did make it clear that the lifting of the current lockdown would “go gradually,” starting with schools and other “activities that have a lower epidemiological burden,” before moving on to a full reopening.

Greek authorities have issued thousands of fines adding up to around 4 million euros for violations to coronavirus-related restrictions since the start of the nationwide lockdown on November 7, official figures published on Tuesday have shown. According to an announcement by the Hellenic Police (ELAS), inspections aimed at cracking down on health safety violations resulted in a total of 9,602 fines of 300 euros and another 663 of 150 euros for smaller infringements. Of the sum of around 4 million euros, just under 3 million euros was for failing to wear a mask in public or wearing it improperly and for violating restrictions to public movement.

The crackdown is continuing, meanwhile, with ELAS saying that it conducted more than 59,000 checks in different parts of the country on Monday, of which more than 6,000 were at Athens International Airport. In total, officers issued 1,907 fines, 1,341 of which were for unauthorized public movement. More than 480 of those violations were in Attica, which also accounted for 179 of Monday’s 556 mask violations.

Meanwhile, 22 people were arrested for breaking the rules regarding the operation of businesses.

Regarding yesterday’s 2,135 cases:

401 cases were detected in the regional unit of Attica

607 cases were detected in the regional unit of Thessaloniki

25 cases were detected in the regional unit of Aitoloakarnania

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Argolida

2 cases were detected in the regional unit of Arkadia

3 cases were detected in the regional unit of Arta

30 cases were detected in the regional unit of Achaia

22 cases were detected in the regional unit of Voiotia

13 cases were detected in the regional unit of Grevena

33 cases were detected in the regional unit of Drama

48 cases were detected in the regional unit of Evros

3 cases were detected in the regional unit of Evia

12 cases were detected in the regional unit of Evritania

16 cases were detected in the regional unit of Ilia

75 cases were detected in the regional unit of Imathia

31 cases were detected in the regional unit of Iraklio

2 cases were detected in the regional unit of Thesprotia

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Ikaria

16 cases were detected in the regional unit of Ioannina

18 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kavala

18 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kavala

4 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kalimnos

25 cases were detected in the regional unit of Karditsa

9 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kastoria

8 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kerkyra

20 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kilkis

28 cases were detected in the regional unit of Kozani

14 cases were detected in the regional unit of Korinthia

2 cases were detected in the regional unit of Lakonia

129 cases were detected in the regional unit of Larissa

11 cases were detected in the regional unit of Lesvos

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Limnos

93 cases were detected in the regional unit of Magnisia

12 cases were detected in the regional unit of Messinia

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Naxos

52 cases were detected in the regional unit of Xanthi

68 cases were detected in the regional unit of Pella

60 cases were detected in the regional unit of Pieria

9 cases were detected in the regional unit of Rethimno

26 cases were detected in the regional unit of Rodopi

14 cases were detected in the regional unit of Rodos

1 case was detected in the regional unit of Samos

31 cases were detected in the regional unit of Serres

3 cases were detected in the regional unit of Syros

21 cases were detected in the regional unit of Trikala

20 cases were detected in the regional unit of Fthiotida

37 cases were detected in the regional unit of Florina

2 cases were detected in the regional unit of Fokida

44 cases were detected in the regional unit of Chalkidiki

5 cases were detected in the regional unit of Chania

2 cases were detected in the regional unit of Chios

8 cases remain under investigation

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