The need for those entering the Kythera and in the Antikythera, have in their possession negative coronavirus test, to which they will have undergone before going to the islands, the mayor stressed, Eustratios Charhalakis.
Mr. Harhalakis made a «public appeal», through OPEN's morning show, “Hour of Greece”, «especially those who travel to the islands for work purposes», he said. The mayor focused on this category of people because, as he said, «they are not permanent residents», thereby revealing his justified concern for population groups, which exactly due to their constant movements, are exposed to greater risks of transmission and spread of the virus. As he said, he has requested that «not even the crews carrying out works on the Antikythera island should not go there in the last few days».
Mr.Harhalakis pointed out that «the hospital units and health units on the islands do not have the capabilities of the very large university hospitals», despite the fact that, as he stressed, «on the island of Kythera there is a very good hospital, and not a simple Health Centre. However, it too has specific capabilities, which are sufficient for the time being». The mayor described the recent situation, with the appearance of a number of cases on the island in recent days, as «manageable».
The mayor of Kythera, then revealed that he has asked - and in his capacity as chairman of the Islands Commission of the KEDE- «as early as March, that people should not travel to the islands unless there is an absolute necessity and unless coronavirus screening tests have been carried out in advance for those who do travel», emphasising the fragility of local communities, because of the high proportion of elderly people living in them.
Disagreement between Harhalakis and Hexadaktylou
Then, the other guest of the show took the floor and president of the Panhellenic Medical Association, Athanasios Exadaktylos. Mr. Exadaktylos, shared the general anguish of the mayor of Kythera, but stressed that «a negative test may not have an impact on islands larger than Antikythera, given that the tests often give a false sense of security.»
The disagreement of the two men arose when the mayor of Kythera - Antikythera said that in the event of an outbreak in Antikythera, «the rural doctor's office should be sealed and disinfected, leaving the local community without medical coverage for a few days.» As he said, the decontamination process can be time-consuming, because «it can take five days for a decontamination crew to go from Kythera to Antikythera, because of the weather and reduced services now in winter.»
At that point, Mr. Exadaktylos intervened, who repeated twice, «you don't need this, Mr. mayor,» before the connection was completed, perhaps implying that sanitary decontamination is left to specific protocols followed by doctors and nurses. Protocols that apparently do not require lengthy procedures and third party involvement, as they are implemented on the spot, by experts in the field. As he stressed, «in cases of outbreaks, the sanitary premises shall not be sealed». Finally, he made a useful suggestion regarding Antikythera, which is to vaccinate all 34 residents who live permanently on the island during the winter months.
