«Red» threat to Attica: Scenario of a new market lockdown

Scenarios are rife regarding the new measures that are expected to be announced later on Friday, 29/01, at a time when epidemiological indicators are soaring, «paints Attica red».

The measurements in the urban waste water are arriving at an alarmingly increasing rate in the services of the EODY and exacerbate the state of alert in which the Basin has been placed.

In addition, the increase in hospitalizations in the reference hospitals and the emergence of of the British coronavirus mutation recently in our country, they don't give scientists much room for maneuver, especially when it comes to Attica.

The gloomy scene is completed by the images of large crowds observed last weekend in major commercial streets of the capital and the large turnout at the university rally on Thursday, 28/01.

According to information, according to the recommendation of the subcommittee of infectious diseases experts, the classification of the wider Athens area as a «red zone» should be taken for granted and it remains to be seen what type and scope of restrictive measures will be imposed.

What will happen with Gymnasiums - Lyceums

Despite recent announcements to the contrary by the Deputy Minister of Education, Zetta Makri on state television, the opening of high schools scheduled for February 1 is now considered highly doubtful.

Regarding schools, the scenarios are as follows:

• Delay their opening by one (at least one week), as, among other things, proposed today, Friday 29/01, the Theodoros Vassilakopoulos, Professor of Pulmonology-Intensive Therapy EKPA, speaking to SKAI.
• Open with mass tests per week, as proposed by hospital doctors' president and committee member Matina Pagoni, speaking on Friday also on SKAI.
• Opening schools only in non-red districts but also individually assessing their safety as proposed, speaking to CNN Greece, professor of epidemiology at the Medical School of the University of Athens, Athena Linou .
• Opening of schools, as has been decided, with strict adherence to safety rules, as suggested, among others, by the lung specialist, Coordinating Director of the 7th Lung Clinic at Sotiria Hospital, Mina Gaga.

The difficult puzzle of the market

However, the issue of the functioning of the market is also hot. In a «red Attica», the click away automatically takes precedence, while the suspension of retail outlets with a physical presence in the area should be taken for granted.

For its part, the commercial world appears to be totally opposed to the logic of the «accordion» in the operation of the market, an attitude that seems to be shared by government officials, especially the Minister of Development and Investment, Adonis Georgiadis.

«The market can not be closed but it will work with measures,» said Georgiades, speaking to ANT1, while he was clearly on the side of shopkeepers. «We are all on their side, we understand that they cannot close again and lose Discount period», the minister said.

Curfew on the table

And while a week ago, the idea of opening up activities such as the hunting, fishing and ski resorts - which would have resulted in the lifting of the ban on movement between counties - now the situation has changed dramatically.

Today, the scenario curfew after 6 p.m. is playing very strongly, as revealed by the professor of Infectious Diseases and member of the committee of experts of the Ministry of Health, Nikos Sipsas.

Speaking on the show «Greek Time» of OPEN TV, Mr Sipsas said that «today the Committee of Experts on the coronavirus will meet entirely on «red» areas», specifying that «any measures will initially last for two weeks and then they will be reviewed.».

He noted that in Attica things have not yet got out of hand, but they want to prevent such an eventuality and are therefore discussing more stringent measures as of now. He explained that the two indicators that concern experts, is the an increase in hospitalisations and the increase of patients in ICUs, which and has surpassed the 60% and how «no one wants an Attica at the mercy of a pandemic».

Commenting on this proposal, the Demosthenes Sarigiannis, a professor of Environmental Engineering at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, said on Friday, speaking to Skye: either at 6 or 8 o'clock, the workers are on the street. Teleworking must be increased. The 50% and above that the EO says is not observed by employers.».