Debate in Parliament on the response to the coronavirus

At 17:00, the plenary session of the Greek Parliament meets to discuss the consequences of COVID-19 on public health. The debate will be held at the level of political leaders, at the initiative of the President of the Change Movement, Fofi Gennimata. The debate will be concluded in one sitting, without a vote, and will begin with a speech by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, followed by the chairmen of the parliamentary parties and ministers.

Headache for experts, the coexistence of influenza and COVID-19

Distinguishing between seasonal influenza and COVID-19 is of major importance for understanding the course of the pandemic, preparing properly for the difficult winter ahead and planning potentially better treatment.

According to the professors of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mr. Thanos Dimopoulos (Dean of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens) and Mr. Efstathios Kastritis, the course of the disease during the last 5 months, shows that it is far from being characterized as “seasonal”. This is supported by the high number of cases this summer, worldwide.

It is therefore a given that COVID-19 is not coupled to influenza. But it should be taken as certain that they will be, starting in the coming autumn. In this combination, a key question arises, according to the experts: how one disease could affect the other. For example, could a possible vaccination against influenza put the brakes on the progress of the coronavirus? Or again, would a simultaneous infection with influenza and SARS-Cov-2 prove fatal in terms of the course of cure and the severity of coronavirus symptoms?;

Compliance is the key

All of the above is clearly of concern to experts. But the key to individualising knowledge about the pandemic is its pathological symptom, which is common to influenza. The fact that it is two respiratory viruses. Therefore, compliance with the SARS-cOV-2 protection measures will also contain this downward spiral of influenza and will therefore relieve the strain on the health systems of each country, which are burdened by the pandemic. 

We are not winning the battle, we are buying time, and that is essential in the course of controlling the pandemic that has invaded our lives. And threatens the future of our children.