Greece is bracing for a fourth wave of the coronavirus, as the epidemiological weight of the country has increased by 28% in the past two weeks, and the positivity rate has increased to 1.35% in the past week.
“The epidemiological weight has increased significantly,” warned Vana Papaevangelou, Professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, on Thursday.
Mina Gaga, Greece’s deputy Minister of Health, stated recently on a radio interview that “the fourth wave of the pandemic has already started” in Greece, where there are “more than 3,000 cases each day.”
“We have to be very careful… we are entering a difficult period because we have the Winter ahead of us,” Gaga continued.
Coronavirus numbers in northern Greece are worrying
The situation in northern Greece is particularly worrying, as specialists have witnessed a large increase in cases there, and vaccination rates in the region remain low.
In Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, the epidemiological weight has remained high consistently.
The great majority of those who are positive for the coronavirus and are currently on ventilators in hospitals in northern Greece are unvaccinated.
As most of those with the virus that are currently treated in intensive care units in northern Greece have not received the shot, and transmission of the virus is increasing, the units have reached nearly 90% capacity, Papaevangelou stated.
In Attica, the epidemiological situation has stabilized, with pockets of higher transmission rates.
Masks to be worn at October 28 parades
Additionally, daily admissions of coronavirus patients into the hospital have increased by 30%.
“The progression of the pandemic in areas with low vaccination rates remains worrying,” Papaevangelou noted.
There has also been an increase in new cases among older people, which brings with it higher hospitalization and death rates.
She stressed that the coronavirus vaccine, which studies have shown is highly safe and effective, is the only way to prevent an increase in hospitalizations and deaths.
“In Greece, those who are vaccinated are 11 times less likely to die from Covid (than the unvaccinated)”
Papaevangelou also stated that all those who wish to participate in the parade held for Oxi Day on October 28 must wear masks.
3,407 cases of coronavirus in Greece, 34 deaths
Greece recorded 3,407 total cases across the country on Thursday.
The average age of those who tested positive for the virus in Greece is 39, and the average age of those who have died with the virus is 78.
A total of ten of Thursday’s cases were identified during routine Covid-19 testing of tourists at the country’s borders.
Currently, there are 347 patients with the coronavirus on ventilators in Greece.
Tragically, 34 people suffering from the coronavirus passed away in the country over the past 24-hour period.
Over 700,000 cases of Coronavirus recorded in Greece
Since the beginning of the pandemic, a total of 707,587 cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in the country, including all those who have recovered from the virus.
Of the 347 patients intubated currently, 81.3% are over the age of 70 or suffer from preexisting conditions.
The majority of those who are on ventilators in Greece, or 88.18%, are unvaccinated against the coronavirus.
Additionally, a total of 3,270 patients have been discharged from ICUs around the country since the beginning of the pandemic.
The 33 new deaths recorded on Thursday bring the total number of fatalities in the country to 15,519.
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