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First entry: Monday, December 7, 2020, 1:30 p.m.
The “roadmap” for a “gradual and safe” return to everyday life was given during the briefing of the political authors by the government representative Stelios Petsas. Noting that the pressure on the NSS continues to be great, despite the reduction in cases observed in recent days, Mr. Petsas said that after the recommendations of the expert committee it was decided:
Schools must remain closed until the morning of January 7, 2021 and distance education must continue.
Until the morning (06:00) of the same day, restaurants, entertainment, courts and sports activities remain closed, except those that are still active today (Super League football and basketball championship).
Likewise, the measure regarding travel bans from prefecture to prefecture remains in force, the measure prohibiting meetings is extended, while teleworking remains at the same percentages.
As Mr. Petsas mentioned, further announcements are expected in the coming days about what will happen to churches, as well as to hairdressers and other branches of retail.
“Today marks a month since the implementation of the second universal blockade,” he pointed out, emphasizing that “in our country, as in other European countries, it helped domesticate first and drop cases later. “But the improvement in epidemiological data and the reduction in viral load is slow.”
He stressed that it is slower than expected “because of the fatigue of all of us after ten months of fighting with the invisible and insidious enemy, the coronavirus.” It is indicative that comparing the second with the first closure, mobility increases by approximately 20%, while the restrictive measures after the closure of schools are essentially the same ”.
He added that, according to the latest data, there is a relative stabilization or even a slight decline in the moving average of cases. Occupied ICU beds are also declining, while the number of empty Covid-19 single beds is increasing.
The government spokesman said: “The average number of daily cases is 1,609 on a continuous seven-day basis, up from 2,352 from November 5 to 11, the first week of the second blockade, and 2,674 from November 12 to 18. November. and the highest daily number of new cases was recorded. The number of patients remains high at 4,008 people compared to 4,079 on November 20, while the seven-day moving average of the import index per day has decreased to 343 compared to 447 on the same date, and imports are balanced by discharges.
However, as he characteristically said, “with such a large number of our human companions intubated and ICU beds occupied, there is still pressure on the NSS and doctors, nurses and other staff are making superhuman efforts to provide the best services and save lives. “.
Regarding issues related to the economy, the government spokesperson highlighted:
“Greece is no longer a queue in the euro zone. The government has launched and continues amid a pandemic a bold reform project that improves the investment environment and leads to reform of the economy and the country as a whole.
The markets give a vote of confidence to our economy, a fact that is demonstrated in practice by the yields of securities of any duration that move at historically low levels. At the same time, there is strong interest in foreign investment that will give the country new impetus and new, better-paying jobs. Typical events are Microsoft investments, Volkswagen’s work in Astypalea, and the expansion of Pfizer’s investments in Thessaloniki.
At the same time, the country is gaining economic power for the coming years, as it can raise 32 billion euros from the Recovery Fund and an additional 40 billion under the NSRF and the Common Agricultural Policy. And these resources will directly and effectively contribute not only to the rapid and dynamic recovery, but also to the substantial reform of the Greek economy. It is important that the Fund allows us to include projects and investments made since February 2020.
Meanwhile, the data released by ELSTAT for the third quarter highlights both the dynamics that the Greek economy had developed before the health crisis and its resilience during the crisis. Specifically, in 2019, the Greek economy showed higher growth (+ 1.9%) than in 2018, noting, in fact, for the first time since 2007, growth above the European average. Something that continued in 2020, with growth in the first quarter (+ 0.4%), and no recession (-0.5%), as estimated.
However, the Greek economy also shows resilience, as reflected in the data for the second and third quarters when, contrary to the forecasts of the catastrophists, it kept the recession in the first nine months of 2020 in single digits.
In any case, the Government will continue to support the affected households and companies for as long as necessary, and in 2021. It has already contributed 7,000 million euros for this purpose and supports those in need.
