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Instead of reducing the obstacles that government personnel have to overcome on the road to Christmas, these are increasing, as the suffocating pressure received by the NSS units, mainly in the region, but also the number of new cases that remains high despite restrictive measures, they also do not leave much room for maneuver for the reopening of social and economic life.
Although the explosive situation registered in Thessaloniki with respect to the spread of the virus shows signs of de-escalation, the increase in viral load in 17 other areas of the country has particularly alarmed the Palace of the Maxims, with the Deputy Minister of Civil Protection, Nikos Hardalia yesterday publicizing the list of “red” counties for the pandemic.
These are: Pella, Drama, Thessaloniki, Grevena, Florina, Pieria, Imathia, Serres, Larissa, Kilkis, Halkidiki, Magnesia, Xanthi, Karditsa, Volos, Evros, Kavala and Trikala, geographic units in which epidemiology is very average national, mobilizing the state mechanism.
The close surveillance of the aforementioned areas, but also of the cities with temporary critical points, such as the feast of the patron saint, San Andrés in Patras on Monday, has put the police authorities on alert, so that the intensive controls help to avoid a recurrence. massive dispersal phenomena, as happened on the day of Agios Dimitrios in Salonika.
Already, with this purpose, the Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, is going today to Patras, in order to coordinate the local authorities in the supervision of protection measures.
National reset
In addition to the strict supervision of the control mechanisms, with the aim of drastically limiting the number of new cases nationwide, Megaro Maximou is expected to come up with a definitive plan for the celebration of Christmas and New Year, adapted to the conditions of the coronavirus.
The need, in fact, for this plan to successfully combine any festive atmosphere with the urgent need to reopen the market, eventually led to the extension of the closure for a week, that is, until 6 a.m. on Monday, December 7. , to take into account any eventuality. updates epidemiological data throughout the country. This is because, in principle, the government’s intentions are preceded by the attempt to fully restore the entire country in December, perhaps with a few more restrictions for areas with additional viral load.
“We cannot see at this time, different speeds to lift the blockade between Regions. We do not have any suggestion from experts. It is necessary to lower the epidemiological burden in all parts of the country,” emphasized government spokesman Stelios Petsas, adding that “If we see next week that there are different outbreaks in different geographical areas, this will be suggested by epidemiologists. But we are not there. Nor has such a thing been considered.”
The uniform restart, however, due to the holidays, requires, on the one hand, a first de-escalation of cases and intubations before the holiday break, in order to give the health system a margin to face any burden derived from the holidays. “The sooner the measures are taken, the sooner there will be a resurgence,” explained pediatrician-specialist in infectious diseases Vana Papaevangelou, concerns shared by several scientists, leaving open the possibility of extending the closure until December 14.
Given the liquidity of the situation, the only constant in government planning is the temporary return of primary school students and young children to classrooms, as announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in dialogue with students from Chania . The government’s willingness to ring the school bell before Christmas was also confirmed by the Minister of Education, Niki Kerameos, speaking yesterday about number 104.6, stating, however, that the final decisions are left in the hands of specialists in infectious diseases.
Until the completion of the roadmap to Christmas, something that is expected to be completed by the end of next week, the government decided yesterday to impose a ceiling, with Commerce Secretary General Panagiotis Stampolidis announcing the ceiling for testing of coronavirus, to avoid scandals. With the submission of a relevant amendment, the prices will be as follows:
· As a maximum charge price of the molecular RT-PCR test for the detection of coronary SARS-CoV-2, forty EUROS (€ 40.00)
· As a maximum charge price for the rapid test for the detection of coronary antigen SARS-CoV-2 (Rapid test), ten (10.00) euros.
In addition, the extension of telework until December 31 provides for a Joint Ministerial Decision (JMD), for reasons of protection of public health. The extension affects companies and employers, located or with a branch in any regional unit in the country and they are obliged at the end of the year to apply the remote work provision system to their employees, at a rate of 50% of all these employees.
At the same time, yesterday the professor of Epidemiology, Athena Linou, asked for special care to the catering businesses, but also to the ski resorts, proposing that the two branches close during the holidays, thus sealing all possible outbreaks of the virus , despite the plans. set the opening of cafes and restaurants on Christmas Eve, that is, around December 21. “As the state takes measures to save the lives of citizens in the same way, it must take appropriate measures to save tourism and restoration from economic disaster,” said Linou, who described dining outings.
The destination of the restaurant will be during the festive and entertainment season, as bars and entertainment centers, theaters, cinemas and dance halls will remain closed, while not as many cafes and restaurants as open, music or standing guests will be allowed. In the holiday bans, the ban on traffic and gatherings such as Easter this year, as well as travel from one prefecture to another, is still being studied.
