Greece advises public to wear masks amidst COVID outbreak (Nachrichten)

his COVID outbreak is reported to have begun mid-November and is expected to peak by the end of this month

Greece has reinstated mask wearing indoors after a surge in COVID-19 cases over the last month.

With concerns due to the escalating number of infections, health authorities are urging that the public adhere to stop the spread.

However, at this stage is currently advised they do so, rather than mandatory.

Officials acknowledge mounting worries not just about the rising infection rates but also the relatively low number of vaccinated people in the country. There has also been an increase in hospital admissions due to the virus.

In the past 24 hours Greece has reported 230 new cases, leading both locals and visitors to comply with mask-wearing and social distancing protocols.

Epidemiology professor Demosthenes Sarigiannis spoke with SKAI on Thursday morning, saying they expect daily cases to reach almost 9000.

“At Christmas, we were at 5,800 daily cases,” he said when asked about the current course of COVID-19.

“When we have a large dispersion, we increase the chances of coming into contact with the virus, so in vulnerable groups, the chance of critical illness increases.

“We expect increases in hospitalisations and deaths, around 78 to 80,” he stressed.

Earlier this week, Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Nikos Thomaidis was interviewed by state-run broadcaster ERT.

He said that there has been a large increase in not just COVID-19 but other respiratory viruses such as influenza A and syncytial virus (RSV).

“The viral load of the coronavirus is much, much higher than that of the other two, but having the other two viruses together makes the combination pretty serious,” he said.

“The last week has shown increases of 85-90 percent in these viruses and this means that in the next 2-3 weeks we will have an even higher viral load.”

Meanwhile pharmacies are reporting that there has been an increase in demand for tests, and that stocks are running out.

This COVID outbreak is reported to have begun mid-November and is expected to peak by the end of this month.

Across the Mediterranean, Cyprus will be making COVID testing and masks mandatory in nursing homes, hospitals, outpatient clinics, dentists, and facilities for vulnerable groups according to Cyprus Mail.

The measures were formerly decided on Thursday following a rise in case numbers and hospitalisations.

Quelle: neoskosmos