Greece recorded a staggering total of 28,828 cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday, 7,171 more than the 21,657 recorded on Tuesday.
This is the highest number of cases ever recorded in the country in a 24-hour period since the start of the pandemic.
The previous record for the highest number of coronavirus cases recorded in one day in Greece was broken just yesterday, when 21,657 cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed.
Just 19 of Wednesday’s cases were identified during routine Covid-19 testing of tourists at the country’s borders.
In the past day, a total of 398,632 coronavirus tests have been administered, including both PCR and rapid tests, bringing the positivity rate in Greece to 7.23%.
Currently, there are 620 patients with the coronavirus on ventilators in Greece, 15 fewer than the 635 in the country on Tuesday.
A total of 72 people with Covid-19 passed away in Greece on Wednesday alone, compared to the 60 people who died with the virus in the country on Tuesday.
This brings the total number of coronavirus-related fatalities in the country to 20,636 since the beginning of the pandemic.
Restaurants, bars open until 2:00 AM on New Year’s Eve, no music
New coronavirus measures will be in effect in Greece starting at 6 AM Thursday, Greek Minister of Health Thanos Plevris announced on Wednesday.
From Thursday, restaurants, bars, and cafes will close at midnight, and music will be banned. All patrons must be seated, not standing, and there will be a limit of six people to a table.
The only exception to the measures will be on New Year’s Eve, when restaurants, bars, and cafes will be permitted to stay open until 2:00 AM, but all other measures will still be in effect.
Additionally, Greeks will be required to wear either an N95 (or equivalent) mask, or two masks, in supermarkets and on public transportation. Those who work in the food service industry must also follow these rules regarding masks while at work.
The number of spectators at sports fields and stadiums will be reduced to 10% of the venue’s capacity, with a cap of 1,000 people.
According to the new measures, a total of 50% of workers in both the private and public sectors will work from home.
In order to protect residents, all visitors to senior-care homes and facilities for those with long-term illnesses will have to show a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of their visit, regardless of their vaccination status.
Although not required, Plevris also advised all Greeks to get tested for the virus before celebrating on New Year’s Eve.
12,848 Covid-19 cases in Attica, 3,496 in Thessaloniki
Of the 28,828 new coronavirus cases recorded in Greece in the past 24 hours, 12,848 were located in Attica, home to the Greek capital city of Athens.
A total of 4,164 cases of Covid-19 were identified in central Athens on Tuesday.
In Thessaloniki, the second-largest city in Greece, 3,496 cases of the virus were identified today.
Over one million Covid-19 cases recorded in Greece
Since the beginning of the pandemic, a total of 1,134,713 cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in the country, including all those who have recovered from the virus.
Of the 620 patients intubated currently, 80.2% are over the age of 70 or suffer from preexisting conditions. Their average age is 63.
The majority of those who are on ventilators in Greece, or 85.32%, are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Additionally, a total of 3,745 patients have been discharged from ICUs around the country since the beginning of the pandemic.
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