Coronavirus: gradual lifting of the lockdown after 30 November

The initial scenario of the country's «opening» on 30 November should be considered increasingly remote. The failure to halt the spread of the pandemic at the pace initially forecast contributes to this.

The large amount of viral load still being detected in sewage and the new records in deaths and hospital admissions do not leave much room for optimism that the country will be able to be completely free of restrictions by the end of the month.

The health system under suffocating pressure

Despite the glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel due to the recently announced vaccines, government spokesman Stelios Petsas believes that the health system will continue to be under pressure next week due to the imprint of the epidemiological data of the previous 15 days on the country's health profile. He points out that efforts are being made to increase the number of ICUs, either by reallocating health workers or by the contribution of private doctors.

How the government is expected to act

After the expected halt in the influx of new cases is confirmed by the end of this week, the government plans a gradual release from the «restrictive shackles», with schools being the first places to reopen.

«There is no way schools will be closed until the Lights. We will present the final plan to the citizens early next week,» said Mr Petsas, adding that if everything goes smoothly, the baton will be passed to retail, which will probably resume after the first ten days of December.

First retail, then catering

As the Deputy Minister of Development, Nikos Papathanasis, said, the government will take advantage of the experience of the spring in terms of the gradual restart of the market. This translates first of all into the opening of small shops, to be followed a week later by retail, in two weeks by restaurants and after three weeks by interiors.

Speaking to SKAI, Papathanasis stressed that at this stage there can be a condensation of the restart with strict measures and assured that people will not spill into the streets.

Optimism for Thessaloniki

The messages sent out from yesterday by the capital city are optimistic as the outbreaks are stabilizing in the city. In fact, according to the AATH, from next week, a flattening of the curve in the sewage is expected.

However, experts recommend caution and vigilance, given that the city's health services have recently come under enormous pressure, with doctors and nurses being stretched beyond their limits in many cases.

«The whole city is fighting together. We're going to step up and get the city out of this crisis. These are going to be tough days. For the next 10 days we will be in high patient flows until the measures are met,» said Simeon Metallidis, assistant professor of Pathology-Patient Care at AHEPA, yesterday.