Holidaymakers jetting off to Greece are being alerted to a significant outbreak of a new Covid variant in the country, with mask restrictions being reintroduced. The Metaxa Oncology Hospital in Piraeus has announced that from today (July 15) it will be implementing stringent protective measures against Covid-19 for the next fortnight.
Greece is currently grappling with a surge in Covid-19 cases due to a new strain named FLiRT. This was confirmed by Professor Gikas Magiorkinis, an expert in hygiene and epidemiology at the University of Athens, during an interview with Skai TV.
The FLiRT variant first appeared in Greece around two weeks ago, leading to a marked rise in infections and hospital admissions. However, despite the increase in cases, Professor Magiorkinis has reassured the public that this variant does not cause severe illness.
Health officials are keeping a close eye on the situation to control the spread of the FLiRT variant. Throughout the pandemic, Greece has seen fluctuating infection rates, resulting in periodic waves and varying levels of restrictions.
Metaxa Hospital Director, Sarantos Efstathopoulos, has detailed the robust measures being implemented to combat Covid-19 infection rates, which include obligatory mask usage in all indoor areas of the facility, particularly patient wards, along with enforced hygiene protocols. There will be limits on patient visitors a maximum of two per patient must adhere to passes issued by the nursing service, ensuring that they don’t visit simultaneously.
Rapid testing every 48 hours is mandatory for patients companions and outpatient visitors. Staff members showing potential symptoms of the virus are also compelled to undertake these rapid tests.
Speaking to CNN Greece, Efstathopoulos implored: “I am asking for the cooperation of the relevant departments and departments for the immediate implementation of the above-mentioned measures and the correct information of the staff, patients and their companions, through the distribution of an information sheet on the portal, in the clinics and outpatient clinics, as well as through the website of the Metaxas Hospital.”
These critical safety measures will come into effect from Monday, July 15, 2024 until Monday, July 29, 2024 when an evaluation will take place based on the prevailing epidemiological data.
The Association of Hospital Doctors’ Union of Athens and Piraeus (EINAP) warned that this recent outbreak of the coronavirus could persist until the end of July, posing a high risk to vulnerable groups within the population and holidaymakers.
EINAP President Matina Pagonis has issued a stark warning, stating: “It’s summer, we’re going on vacation, we never said the coronavirus was gone. The truth is that this year, compared to last year, the cases have nothing to do with it. There are too many, there are many hospitalizations and also deaths. 21-22 deaths are too many. It will be until the end of July or so the flare-up”. She urged high-risk groups with underlying diseases to contact their doctor as soon as they fall ill to start antiviral treatment, adding: “This way they will prevent complications and hospitalizations. These groups should wear their masks when they go out in closed spaces and there is crowding.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) last week announced that Covid-19 continues to cause around 1,700 deaths per week worldwide, urging vulnerable population groups to get vaccinated. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern over the observed decline in vaccination coverage of the population.
Despite the high death toll, “data show that vaccination coverage has declined among health workers and citizens over 60, two of the most at-risk groups,” Tedros revealed during a news conference in Geneva.
“The World Health Organization recommends that those in high-risk groups be vaccinated against Covid-19 within 12 months of the last dose administered to them.”