Eighteen areas remain in a state of alert

Pandemic in northern Greece, in particular, is relentless as health system continues to struggle

Authorities and health experts are closely monitoring the course of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic as it unfolds around the country with increasing concern, both in terms of the suffocating pressure it is exerting on the National Health System and its dynamics in areas outside major urban centers, such as Pella, Pieria, Grevena, Drama and Serres in northern Greece.

Tellingly, in the last seven days, Pella has reported 430 cases per 100,000 people (the highest proportion in the country), while Grevena has confirmed 400 cases per 100,000.

In the same period, Attica has reported just over 60 per 100,000. According to Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias yesterday, 18 areas of the country are particularly burdened, while he stressed that “failures or non-observance of measures can put other areas of the country in the same position.”

These 18 areas are Pella, Drama, Thessaloniki, Grevena, Florina, Pieria, Imathia, Serres, Larissa, Kilkis, Halkidiki, Magnesia, Xanthi, Karditsa, Evros, Kavala, Rodopi and Trikala.

What’s more, of particular concern is the increase in the viral load in recent days in Achaia, Aitoloakarnania and Ilia in southern Greece, with Hardalias saying it is imperative that safety measures are strictly observed in the next 24 hours.

Indicatively, the number of cases in Aitoloakarnania has almost doubled in the last seven days compared to the previous corresponding period (202 against 119 cases). In order to better monitor the evolution of the epidemic throughout Greece, teams of the National Public Health Organization have been carrying out free rapid tests around the country in recent days. More specifically, on Thursday, a total of 1,409 tests were performed in eight regional units throughout Greece, with the percentages of positive tests ranging from 7.38% (Veria) to 0% (Corinth, Velo).

Meanwhile yesterday, 2,013 new cases of coronavirus were recorded, with the total number of laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic reaching 101,287.

A total of 545 new cases were recorded in Thessaloniki, 319 in Attica, 106 in Larissa, 97 in Serres and 80 in Magnesia. The number of deaths reported came to 101. Also yesterday was the first day during the second wave of the pandemic that the number of intubated patients did not increase (607 patients compared to 608 the day before yesterday).