Cases of the new coronavirus Covid-19 continue to be detected in Kythera after the radio station Chirigo FM 2 new infections reported in the last 48 hours. The island's health services are carrying out contact tracing of the outbreaks.
Vaccinations under the «Covid Free» programme continue on the islands
And this week the vaccination of Kythera residents continues as the island has joined the «Covid Free» program with horizontal vaccination of islands with up to 10,000 inhabitants.
«I travel to Kythera and get vaccinated!»
The development of the «Covid-Free» program is particularly impressive on the island as Kythera has been visited by Kytherians from other regions of the country and other citizens who saw the «Covid-Free» program as an opportunity to be vaccinated an hour earlier. The phenomenon of «vaccination tourism» is not only «Kythira» as the same is observed in other Greek islands.
Not everyone responded to the «Covid-Free» program»
In the last few days, and while the impressions of the citizens at the Kythera Hospital from the organization of the vaccination program are very satisfactory, less attendance of local residents is reported than expected. Despite announcements stating that Friday 16 April was the last day, as had emphasize and the Mayor of the island Mr. Harhalakis, there is likely to be an extension to the programme. The efforts of the authorities in recent months have been directed towards encouraging citizens to be vaccinated, while at the same time there have been citizens refusing to be vaccinated influenced by the anti-vaccination movement.
Theocharis: There are no «Covid-Free» islands»
There has been a misconception lately that the islands that have joined the Covid-Free programme have a different policy in terms of protection measures and government tourism policy. Recall the statement made by the Minister of Tourism Mr. Theocharis on April 5 in Parliament who in response to a topical question said: «Our country's plan is a comprehensive plan for opening up tourism. It is a plan that is extremely detailed, balanced and allows for safe tourism throughout the country. Talking about an island whose residents are vaccinated for business reasons is not a discussion that concerns tourism. The whole country is safe. There should be no internal competition between destinations. I appeal to stop this counterproductive literature. It is obvious that only business reasons are driving the vaccination of certain islands.
There is no question of substance. They are islands with a small potential, in relation to the number of beds that could affect the general health situation.».
