COVID-19: Greece Reports 591 New Cases, 21 Deaths

Greece’s National Public Health Organization (EODY) on Saturday reported 591 new COVID-19 cases and 21 deaths, while 360 patients are intubated.

According to the official announcement, in the last 24 hours 591 patients were infected, of which two were identified after checks at the country’s entry gates. The total number of cases in the country has 414,636 (daily change + 0.2 percent), of which 51.2 percent are men.

Based on the confirmed cases of the last seven days, 31 are considered related to travel from abroad and 1,395 are related to an already known case.

The new deaths of patients with COVID-19 are 21, while since the beginning of the epidemic a total of 12,405 deaths have been recorded, with 95.2 percent of the deceased having an underlying illness or being 70 years of age or older.

The number of patients treated by intubation is 360 (64.3 percent men). Their median age is 67 years, with 87.5 percent having an underlying illness and/or being over 70 years old.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 2,560 patients have been discharged from ICU.

Admissions of new COVID-19 patients to hospitals in the country are 116 (daily change -2.52 percent).

The average seven-day admission is 124 patients. The median age of cases is 43 years (range 0.2 to 106 years), while the median age of the deceased is 78 years (range 0.2 to 106 years).

Fifteen coronavirus infections in Greek Prison

Authorities of the Agios Stefanos Correctional Facilities in Patras are alarmed after 15 inmates were found infected by COVID-19 on Saturday.

According to SKAI television, the 14 cases concern inmates and one a prison officer. All persons found infected have not yet shown symptoms of the virus.

Among the inmates who were found positive in the tests, is Nikos Paleokostas, a well-known criminal who is facing serious health problems.

Inoculated Greeks to be exempt from self-testing

Greek citizens who have been vaccinated will be exempt from compulsory self-testing as of July 1, announced the Minister for the Coordination of Government Work, Akis Skertsos.

Speaking on Mega television on Saturday, the government official spoke about compulsory vaccination, perks for those who are vaccinated, the self-tests and the prospect of vaccinating children in the Fall.

Speaking of special privileges to those who are inoculated for COVID-19, Skertsos rejected the term “privileges”.

“For one year and a half now we are implementing public health measures that have reduced our rights to protect the highest good: the health of many and especially the most vulnerable,” he said.

“From the moment they are vaccinated, however, citizens have every right to return to their normal lives.

“What those who are not vaccinated should understand is that as the degree of immunity of society increases and there is no longer a risk that the most vulnerable of us will get sick, there is no chance that universal measures will return in the autumn,” he continued.

Skertsos said that there will be measures in terms of public health, but they will concern only those who are not vaccinated.

Consequently, as he stressed, those who insist on not getting inoculated, should know that they will continue to be restricted in the way they work, socialize, and getting entertained.

Skertsos stressed that in order to talk about a return to certain activities, we must ensure universality in vaccination as a necessary condition.