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With the indicators of the epidemic – daily number of cases, hospitalized, intubated, dead – now they refer to a peculiar, sad history of negative performance where the black record of each previous day seems … almost perfect compared to the next and with the health system constantly under great pressure, our country is once again in a turning point on the difficult eight-month journey through the coronavirus and Covid-19 infection.
It is indicative that yesterday all the previous “performance” was demolished in the number of new cases – 667 positive cases were confirmed On a seemingly “quiet” day, as is often the case in the first two days of the week due to reduced test attendance and fewer tests, the number of positive cases was lower. In total, and according to Civil Protection data, nationwide there are 5,185 people with active coronavirus infection and 6,618 close contacts tracked at home. That is, a total of 11,595 people are in quarantine, a record number of eight months.
Also yesterday the number of hospitalized were 780, a very high figure for the data so far that patients had not exceeded 720. In terms of deaths, the record for the “heaviest” month of the eight-month epidemic was already broken, which was last September with 125 victims . During the 20 days of October, 137 people lost their lives due to the Covid-19 infection.
Anxiety and meetings to avoid further epidemiological deterioration
the successive meetings at the scientific and governmental level the last days reflect everyone’s anxiety to control the epidemic and prevent the worst results for public health and the economy. Last night, and under the dense shadow of 667 new cases in a 24-hour period, the deterioration of epidemiological data and the decisions they are taking were discussed. duration of a conference call at the Maximos Palace with the prime minister, Kyriako Mitsotaki, the Minister of Health, Vassilis Kikilias, the Vice Minister of Civil Protection, Nikos Hardalia, the president of EODY, Panagiotis Arkoumaneas and the representative of the Ministry of Health for the coronavirus, professor of Infectious Diseases, Sotiri Tsiodra.
According to information, it fell on the table. possibility of imposing new measures by prefecture and region. As the Prime Minister pointed out, the problem is in northern Greece and especially in Thessaloniki, where the increase in cases showed a sudden increase. What measures could be implemented was discussed, the most important thing is that use of universal mask indoors and outdoors. This measure is already implemented in the Kozani region and its implementation at a general level will be evaluated based on the results that will emerge. The Prime Minister will return from the trip to Cyprus and the situation will be assessed within the next 24 hours, so that Friday, in collaboration with specialists in infectious diseases, will decide what will be born.
Today, the members of the Committee of Experts of the Ministry of Health have a meeting to evaluate the Charter of Sanitary Security. As part of the evaluation and weekly data update for the 74 Regional Units of the country, it will be decided in which cases the level of risk should change depending on the extent of the cases and their characteristics.
Attica is in a “stable but critical” state, with at least 4 areas out of control
Attica, which registered 250 new cases yesterday, remains at the center of the epidemic, and experts characterize its situation “stable but critical” and eagerly looking for ways to “keep” it in this state without having to put in a local lock.
In this context, and although the measures are specific depending on the alert level, the activation of some selective restrictive measures for the basin is being considered, which will be among those in force in the orange alert and on the next and last red alarm. The local blockade for the country’s largest region, with a population of 5 million, remains the latest “cure” for his “stable but critical” condition.
At the same time, new regional units, such as Ioannina and Kastoria, register an exponential increase in cases and prepare to enter quarantine following the path traced for Kozani, and others such as Thessaloniki and Serres, are within walking distance of the next increased alarm level. population.
Especially in Ioannina and Kastoria, Mr. Hardalias pointed out during yesterday’s information that “because epidemiological multipliers are high and there are many scattered clusters (outbreaks of outbreaks), the increase becomes aggressive, therefore dangerous.”
The young “leaders” of the epidemic
A common denominator in these areas in the spread of the epidemic is, as pointed out during yesterday’s briefing on the coronavirus at the Ministry of Health, the professor of Epidemiology, Gikas Majorkinis and the Deputy Minister of Civil Protection, Nikos Hardalias, 18 to 39 year olds. Indicatively, they reported that people with active Covid-19 infection have an average age of 30 years in Thessaloniki and 33 years in Attica.
“Now they are leading the epidemic in our country,” they characteristically said. That is, they are those that are confirmed positive for the coronavirus, who may present symptoms and become ill or not, but who transmit the virus regardless of whether they have symptoms of Covid-19 infection or not. They are the ones who have catalytic role in the transmission of the epidemic, in the infection of vulnerable and elderly people and in its dramatic course, usually fatal, if they become ill and are hospitalized. And above all, it is they who must pay more attention to the observance of protection measures for themselves and others.
“The increase in the epidemic is led by the 18 to 39 age group, at a rate of 60% -70% more than expected. “This age group seems to have increased by around 10% -20% in the last days, in their participation in the epidemic compared to the previous weeks”, said Mr. Majorkinis. According to him, of the other age groups, the 40-64 age group seems to have increased their participation in the epidemic dynamics in the last two months, with a percentage up to 30% higher than expected. The rest of the age groups still participate with relatively low levels in the cases, without much concern for the experts.
How Young People Determine Integrity of Intensive Care
Youth as the leader of the epidemic was one of the scenarios that caused great concern to experts and in the summer when it began to take shape moving to tourist destinations and a relaxation in the observance of protective measures in the younger age groups. However, in the summer months, despite the cases that occurred, and that led to restrictive measures in popular destinations, it was not recorded with the intensity and force that now reflects the “superiority” of young people in the epidemic.
The 18 to 39 age group currently leading the epidemic, experts say, no risk of Covid-19 infection to the extent that the older age groups 40-64 and 65 and older are at risk. However, it can put the health and lives of other age groups at great risk, as those who become infected will be transferred to the hospital and will likely need intubation. Yesterday, the number of intubated people was 87, of which 60 were in Attica hospitals.
What experts and health professionals fear, rather hope, is that in the next 10 to 15 days the Intensive Care Units (ICU) will capture the great circulation of the coronavirus in young people.
The point is that this phenomenon gradually, that is, the number of young people who are positive for the coronavirus, will lead, if not now in the long term, perhaps in the next 10-15 days, to an increase in intubation, or to a increase in people who are older, or we can still see a small number of people who are younger and will need “said Professor Majorkinis, calling on the 18- to 40-year-old population to pay special attention.
“Consider ourselves potential carriers of the virus”, Recommended by Mr. Majorkinis. The professor also addressed smokers asking them to reduce their harmful smoking habit, recalling that smokers have twice the risk of suffering a serious illness with Covid-19.
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