Authorities eyeing impact of virus measures
Amid a new record in daily coronavirus infections on Friday – with 460 new cases reported in 24 hours, government officials said they were still monitoring the impact of new restrictions introduced over the past two weeks for Attica with announcements for their likely extension expected next week.
Asked about the possibility of yet more measures, Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias and Gkikas Magiorkinis, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Athens University, were evasive. “The discussion does not help,” Hardalias said. “If we all agree to observe all [the measures] we have already taken, the virus will be beaten.”
A new wave of restrictions for Attica introduced on September 21 included the suspension of all concerts, the closure of cinemas and a cap of nine people for all public and private gatherings.
Of the 460 new infections announced on Friday, 207 were in Attica. However, government officials said the curve of new cases in the greater Athens area remains stable, indicating that an explosive increase some had feared might not be imminent. In any case, Magiorkinis said, efforts must be stepped up to curb the spread of the virus ahead of winter.
In addition to the new infections, the National Organization for Public Health (EODY) announced five new deaths on Friday, pushing the toll up to 398.
Of the new deaths one was a resident of the Aghios Panteleimonas retirement home where 47 people have tested positive for Covid-19. An investigation has been launched to determine whether the facility violated health protocols.
Meanwhile there are concerns about new clusters of infections, notably after 114 cases of coronavirus were detected among workers of a canning factory Skydra municipality in the northern region of Pella. The factory suspended its operation until October 11.
