Update – 26/04/2021
April 26, 2021
Who we are
Action Digital is a full-service digital agency based in Cyprus offering services in web
As of the latest update by the Greek authorities, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 diagnosed cases in Greece is 333,129. 57 new deaths were reported raising the total number to 10,007. The number of patients treated in intensive care units is currently 816. 1,400 new cases were announced yesterday in Greece. 676 of the new cases were found in the Attica region and 207 new cases in the Thessaloniki region.
On Friday, Greece announced more severe restrictions of movement for its residents in order to avoid a spike of coronavirus cases due to Easter celebrations. Traditionally, Athenians and other city dwellers return to their ancestors’ rural villages for Easter. The government announced that there will be stricter checks on movement until May 10th in order to avoid spreading the coronavirus from more densely populated areas to the rest of the country.
Decision on Easter travel handed down on Friday
The Joint Ministerial decision published on Friday outlined emergency measures to restrict the movement of citizens which will be valid across the country until 6:00 AM on May 10.
The ban impacts interregional travel particularly in the Attica region, but it also will be in effect across the country. The new rules now ban:
a) Travel out of the region of one’s residence;
b) Travel to or away from the Islands Regional Unit;
c) Travel for the purpose agricultural harvesting.
Infectious disease experts fear that after Easter, when the country will begin the process of reopening after months of lockdown, cases of Covid-19 could spike in Greece. Greek doctor and researcher Giorgos Pavlakis expressed his concern over a possible jump in cases after Easter on the Greek television network MEGA on Sunday.
He stressed that the timeline of the country’s planned re-opening, in which restaurants and cafes, along with schools, will operate again after Easter, with tourism following shortly after, could lead to a sizeable increase in cases. “Greece can’t stay closed forever, we all understand that. Easter, by itself, is a difficult time for restrictions, and together with the re-opening of the retail sector, the service industry, and schools, it could become an explosive mix,” Pavlakis stated.
He continued that the current covid-19 numbers are still elevated in Greece, and that, due to the decision to open the country, there will certainly be “victims” of the virus, and Greece must focus on simply “reducing the number of victims” through anti-virus measures.
Experts fear that Easter gatherings could lead to increase in cases
Other scientists have also urged the Greek public to remain cautious during the Easter period, as many may chose to gather at homes across the country to celebrate the holiday.
Theodoros Vasilakopoulos, Greek Professor of Pulmonology, expressed his belief that Greece would face a wave of new cases after Easter due to gatherings between family and friends on the Greek television network SKAI on Sunday.
He stressed that the vaccine, no matter which type, is the only way to get out of the pandemic, and urged Greeks not to give into fears about extremely rare side effects from the vaccines: “The solution is the vaccine, and the best vaccine is the one that’s available. It’s criminal to change our vaccine appointments (because of the maker) hoping to get the ‘good one.’ People should not be scared. People should go out and get vaccinated en masse.
The Indian variant of the coronavirus, or B.1.617, has arrived in Greece, as two cases of the mutation were confirmed in the country in late April.
It’s still unclear whether the variant spreads more quickly or causes more severe cases of the virus than the stand form of Covid-19.
Additionally, it is not yet known how effective vaccines are in preventing the spread of the variant.
The variant was first discovered in India in October. Since then, it has spread globally, mainly in Europe.
Currently, apart from Greece and India, cases of the mutation have been identified in the US, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Australia, Singapore, and the UK, where 77 cases of the mutation have been recorded.
In more detail, the 1,400 new cases detected per Regional Unit:
