Ά. Skertsos: we go through the summer safely (video)

The Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister presented the government’s strategy for helping Greek society transition safely into the summer season, Akis Skertos. With detailed information on the «how» of the reopening, starting on May 14. «Greece, with its limited resources, has managed to keep the health impact below the European average. And this is an achievement for all of us and for all of you,» he further emphasized.

Little Greece Above the World's Great Powers

«We are now very close to achieving the first major goal of the “Eleftheria” Company”», the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister emphasized during his remarks. In detail, and as of the end of May, based on the vaccines Based on the vaccinations that have been administered and the appointments that have been scheduled, he stated that he can now confidently say that we will have built a wall of immunity around our most vulnerable fellow citizens, people aged 60 and older, and indeed at a rate of over 70% (close to 75%).

While at the same time expressing the government’s optimism that By the end of June, more than 50% of the country's adult population will have received at least one dose of the vaccine, he added emphatically: All of this means that the wall of immunity is now being built «at an exponentially rapid pace, thanks to our very well-organized vaccination campaign and, of course, thanks to the massive participation of the public.».

«Greece, little Greece,» A. Skertsos pointed out, «is currently—and has been since early May—first in daily vaccinations among the world’s wealthiest, most developed, and most industrialized countries. And among the G8 nations, it ranks above the U.S., China, Germany, Russia, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy.».

What our small country has achieved is a collective accomplishment that proves just how great things we can accomplish together when we work as one and set out to overcome our worst selves, which are always lurking," he added.

At the beginning of his remarks, the deputy minister presented a chart showing a steady decline in cases over the past six weeks, a result of the strategy launched on March 19, as he explained. The National Health System held up, he added, while also pointing out that the ratio of admissions to discharges has recently evened out.

To date, 8 million self-tests have been administered to 2.9 million citizens

‘To date, more than 8 million free self-tests have been distributed to more than 2.9 million citizens," said Akis Skertsos regarding the self-tests.

He added: «To date, 11,532 of our fellow citizens have confirmed that they are carriers of the virus thanks to the self-tests.» This means that if this public health policy had not been in place all this time, these people—since they were asymptomatic—would have been out and about spreading the virus, he also noted. More specifically, “we are succeeding in identifying even more of our fellow citizens who are infected and thus limiting the virus’s transmissibility, while at the same time keeping the economy, education, and entertainment sectors functioning.”.

Four Reasons Why We're Reopening Now, Despite So Many Cases

A four-part response—consisting of arguments—to the question, «Last year we reopened when we had almost zero cases; why are we reopening this year with cases so high?» was also provided by the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister. First of all, 2021 is not 2020, he said, and more specifically:

First, Last year we didn't have any vaccines, but this year we do.

Secondly, Last year, we were conducting 800 tests a day at the start of the pandemic, while this year we’re exceeding 80,000 and, at the same time, administering millions of self-tests on a weekly basis.

Third, last year the population's immunity was virtually zero, while this year it is increasing exponentially.

Fourth, last year the National Health System was much weaker, while this year hundreds of general and ICU beds have been added.

Thanks to all these factors, then, «we can safely say that we are leaving the lockdowns behind us and safely reopening our economy and tourism sector, with a strong sense of individual and collective protection,» concluded A. Skertsos.

What's Changing Starting May 14

Starting May 14, our country is safely reopening to tourism, said the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister; furthermore, as of that same date, the curfew has been moved to 12:30 a.m.

Text messages to 13033 and 13032 are being discontinued as well as the restrictions on interregional travel.

Also: Retail businesses will resume operations starting May 14, in accordance with health protocols limiting capacity to 1 customer per 25 square meters, no longer "click-in-a-shop" or "click away.".

The reopening of daycare centers (May 17), outdoor movie theaters (May 21), and open-air cultural venues (May 28) has been postponed by a short time. Also, Starting in June, weddings and baptisms will be held outdoors, with a maximum of 100 people. Throughout May, finally, The ban on live music in restaurants and bars will remain in effect.

As for tourism, he emphasized that Greece proved last year—in far more uncharted waters—that it can function as a safe tourist destination. And we will do the same this year, he assured, while simultaneously committing to ensuring that the safe reception, stay, and return of our visitors are the fundamental principles of our plan to reopen tourism.

As of June 1, the European green certificate, which is intended to implement our country’s proposal to facilitate travel for those who have been vaccinated or have tested negative.

At the same time, with the advanced EVA algorithm, Targeted random testing will continue at our country’s entry points, depending on the epidemiological burden of each visitor’s country of origin. He also noted that last year we had 5 million arrivals at the country’s entry points and 700,000 tests were conducted, identifying nearly 2,700 cases. This policy resulted in keeping the epidemiological burden lower than in all other Mediterranean tourist economies—Spain, France, Croatia, and Malta, the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister added.

Requirements for Interregional Travel

However, in order to protect our islands over the next month and a half, the Greek version of the «green certificate» will be implemented starting May 14 for travel to the islands, he noted.

Specifically, anyone wishing to travel to and from our islands (with the exception of Lefkada and Euboea), whether by ferry or by plane, must, when booking their ticket, must present either a vaccination certificate (14 days after the second dose), a negative PCR test taken within the last 72 hours, a rapid test taken within the last 24 hours, or a self-test taken within the last 24 hours. Airlines and ferry companies are required to conduct these checks, and all domestic and foreign travelers over the age of 5 must comply.

Specifically, self-test results must be reported on the self-testing platform.gov.gr, while those who go to public or private facilities for PCR or rapid antigen tests should request a digital certificate with their test results.

At this point, however, A. Skertsos made a strong recommendation to Regular diagnostic testing for all citizens traveling between regions, from one prefecture to another. And, since travel by land cannot be easily monitored, every citizen should be very careful when traveling to an area other than their place of permanent residence.

However: although we are moving toward a gradual easing of restrictions, the government will continue to rigorously maintain, on a daily basis, epidemiological vigilance and monitoring of critical indicators that provide us with a clear picture of the epidemiological profile of each region, stated A. Skertsos, adding that the goal is to ensure that the government, citizens, and local authorities all have a clear picture of the situation so that timely measures can be taken to curb any local outbreaks.

Thus, on a weekly basis, the government will monitor the following through the COVID Observatory:

· the positivity rate nationwide and in the country's regions,

· cases per 100,000 residents,

· the vaccination and immunity rates in each regional unit

· and, of course, the staffing levels of the National Health System (ESY) by health region.

«We have won the battle for public health»

In conclusion, for over a year now, the Greek government—like every other government—has been forced to join the battle we are all waging against pandemic, to design and implement public health policies that affect all of our daily lives, even on a weekly basis. «This is an unprecedented exercise in public policy, and naturally, when it is carried out under such urgent circumstances, it is accompanied by mistakes,» he acknowledged, adding:

«At the heart of our decisions throughout this period, however, has always been the protection of people’s health, public health, and, secondarily, the economy and employment. And compared to other European countries, we have won the battle for public health. Greece, despite its limited resources, has managed to keep the health impact below the European average. »And this is an achievement for all of us and for all of you. We will continue in this vein in the coming period until we have completely defeated the pandemic and fully freed society and the economy from the restrictive measures.".

Vaccination Message

It is worth noting that the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister chose to conclude his speech by sending a message in support of vaccination, «especially to those who, for their own reasons, have not yet made that decision.».

Specifically, «we are close to achieving herd immunity. Data from hospital admissions and the COVID registry show that of the 1.3 million citizens who have been fully vaccinated to date, only 0.3% have fallen ill,» he noted with particular emphasis. Conversely, «doctors tell us that the overwhelming majority of intubations now involve unvaccinated individuals.».

Consequently, he concluded, «The vaccine works. And it saves lives. It spares us from immense suffering, with significant psychological, social, family, and economic costs. It’s up to us to turn the 75% of people in their 60s and 65s who will have been vaccinated by the end of May into 80% or even 90%.”. Vaccination is safe, and it is both an act of personal protection and a matter of collective responsibility. »It's a lifestyle choice.".

He then went on to say, in response to questions, that regarding self-testing kits, The policy commitment to provide free testing to the entire population remains in effect, but where they are distributed depends on their availability (the country receives approximately 4–5 million tests each week).