Greece confirmed 9,308 new COVID-19 infections and 57 deaths associated with the virus in the last 24 hours, the National Public Health Organization (EODY) announced on Thursday.
A total of 11,061 cases were recorded in the country the day before on Wednesday, and 65 people died with the virus.
In the past 24-hour period, a total of 202,404 PCR and rapid coronavirus tests were conducted across the country. The positivity rate in Greece reached 4.6% on Thursday.
Since the pandemic began, Greece has confirmed a total of 3,216,256 coronavirus infections.
A total of 3,848 COVID-19 cases were recorded in the region of Attica, home to the capital city of Athens, on Thursday.
In Thessaloniki, the country’s second-largest city, 1,030 infections were diagnosed in the past 24 hours.
334 people with COVID-19 on ventilators in Greece
The 57 deaths associated with the coronavirus recorded in the last 24 hours bring the total number of people who have died from the virus in Greece to 28,406. Of those who have passed away, 95.4 percent had an underlying condition and/or were aged 70 or over.
A total of 334 coronavirus patients are on ventilators in hospitals on Thursday, and 345 people were undergoing the treatment the day before.
The median age of intubated patients is 70, and 92.5 percent have an underlying condition and/or are aged 70 or over. Of the total, 183 (54.79%) are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, and 151 (45.21%) are fully vaccinated.
A total of 4,544 patients have been discharged from ICUs in Greece since the pandemic began.
In addition, 245 COVID-19 patients were admitted to hospitals in the last 24 hours. The average admission of patients with COVID-19 to hospitals over the last seven days was 307.
The median age of those with new infections is 36 years while the median age of the deceased is 79.
COVID-19 vaccine certificates to be scrapped
Greece announced on Wednesday that it will scrap COVID-19 vaccination and recovery certificates starting on May 1st while masks will no longer be required in indoor public spaces starting on June 1st.
Greece’s health minister, Thanos Plevris, announced the lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions at a press briefing on Wednesday where he also said that the requirement of one self-test a week is also being scrapped for pupils and educators at schools. This will go into effect after the Easter break.
At workplaces, meanwhile, staff will only be required to take one rapid test a week instead of the current two, a measure also starting on May 1st.
The minister also announced that restrictions on occupancy rates at places such as restaurants, shops, and sports venues are being lifted until August 31st when all the measures will be reviewed.
The easing of COVID-19-related restrictions comes as Greece is preparing for the summer season when a record number of tourists are expected to visit the country.
Starting on May 2nd, travelers to Greece will not be required to show proof of vaccination, and testing requirements at airports will be scrapped, regardless of vaccination status.
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