Coronavirus - Greece: 67 dead - 19,623 new cases - 455 intubated

With experts disagreeing mainly on whether to ease restrictions, the pandemic continues to rage, with the death toll remaining at tragic levels while the number of daily cases reported continues to be in the five-digit range.

At the same time, experts are sounding the alarm about a new wave, this time starting in September, warning the government, which has repeatedly eased restrictions ahead of the tourist seasons (2020 and 2021).

«If a specific strategy and measures are not implemented now with a long-term perspective, in September – October, we will find ourselves in the same situation,» said Grigoris Gerotziafas, professor of hematology at the Sorbonne University, among other things, adding: «We’re expecting the virus to behave differently than it has so far. It’s a living organism (…)».

A warning that measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus should not be fully relaxed, as happened in the United Kingdom—such as lifting the quarantine for those carrying the virus—was also issued by Nikos Tzanakis, a professor of pulmonology.

The number of new laboratory-confirmed cases of the disease recorded in the last 24 hours is 19,623, of which 44 were identified following screenings at the country’s entry points. The total number of cases stands at 2,336,615 (daily change +0.9%), of which 49.6% are men.

Based on the confirmed cases from the past 7 days, 307 are considered to be related to travel from abroad, and 2,166 are linked to a previously known case.

There have been 67 new deaths among COVID-19 patients, bringing the total number of deaths since the start of the pandemic to 25,485. 95.0% had an underlying medical condition and/or was 70 years of age or older.

The number of patients hospitalized and on mechanical ventilation is 455 (65.3% men). Their median age is 67 years. 88.1% have an underlying medical condition and/or are 70 years of age or older. Among the patients currently hospitalized and on a ventilator, 332 (72.97%) are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, and 123 (27.03%) are fully vaccinated. Since the start of the pandemic, 4,222 patients have been discharged from ICUs.

The number of new COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals nationwide is 363 (daily change: +20.6%). The seven-day average of admissions is 364 patients.The median age of cases is 35 years (range 0.2 to 106 years), while the median age of deaths is 79 years (range 0.2 to 106 years).