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The Undersecretary of Civil Protection announced the tightening of restriction measures for the Kozani regional unit, as well as West Attica.
According to the statements of Nikos Hardalias, the heavy epidemiological burden in the area led the committee to make a unanimous decision for a harsh closure in the regional unit.
The measures will take effect tomorrow and will last for one week. More specifically:
- The curfew runs from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. with the exception of employees, who can only travel to and from work with the exclusive permission of their employer.
- Likewise, the retail operation is suspended, even with the click-away method, hairdressers, manicurists and bookstores.
- In addition, all types of ecclesiastical ceremonies of all denominations are suspended, with the exception of exit services in the presence only of close relatives, which will not exceed ten people. In addition, free access to temples for individual prayer is suspended, while all church services are conducted only in the presence of the clergy.
- At the same time, mass controls are being applied to the population of these areas with the use of rapid antigen tests (rapid test) and with in-depth vertical monitoring of confirmed cases and their close contacts. It is noted that for Kozani special emphasis will be given to the areas of Voio and Eordea.
- At the same time, the controls on the employees of the companies and especially the industries in these areas are intensified with the application of the 0-5-10 model, that is, control on the first, fifth and tenth days.
- In the case of the employees of the Elderly Units, it was decided to carry out a molecular check-up or a rapid check-up every 5 days.
- In addition, there will be a massive distribution of protective masks with the care and cooperation of the Local Government.
- In addition, the operation of all public markets in the five municipalities of the Regional Unit is suspended. At the same time, control with the use of rapid antigen tests (rapid test) of small vendors is mandatory, as a condition for the issuance of the work permit in other areas, as well as the periodic review every 3 days.
- At the same time, information campaigns are immediately launched by the EODY population, at the same time that it is decided and is being launched to intensify the controls for the implementation of the measures and the strengthening of the control mechanisms in these areas.
- Finally, a team made up of executives from EODY, the General Secretariat for Civil Protection and the General Public Health Directorate of the Kozani Regional Unit will travel to Kozani for in-depth daily investigation and management of the situation.
Active cases in Kozani, according to the deputy minister, are 397 and of these 81 are hospitalized. 817 high-risk close contacts who have already been placed under house arrest have also emerged from the trace.
“Let us not act as multipliers for this virus,” said N. Hardalias in another part of his post, repeating that “this year there is no New Year’s Eve.”
“The balances are fragile”
Infectious Diseases pedagogue, Vana Papaevangelou, once again rang the bell of the social gatherings during the holidays, during the periodic information on the pandemic.
Ms Papaevangelou spoke of a further reduction in the number of new cases and new hospital admissions last week, but cautioned that there was an increased risk in West Attica and Kozani, noting that the risk could be not only local but also at the level. national.
However, as a good sign, he mentioned the fact that for the first time the number of those leaving the ICU was greater than the new admissions in the units.
It should be clear that based on active cases the risk remains very high, said Ms Papaevangelou, warning that relaxation during the holidays could lead to a further exponential increase in cases.
He explained that in an area where the number of new cases is significantly reduced on the eve of the holidays, if one relaxes it is more likely that one will find an asymptomatic carrier and start a new chain of transmission that will lead to a new outbreak.
“One word expresses us all: we are very concerned,” he said, “because we know that if our recommendations are not followed, the hospitals will be full again.” “The balance is very fragile,” he said.
Especially for the holidays, he commented that “we must not let the occasional entertainment” distort what we have achieved in the previous weeks. “
“If one of the company is an asymptomatic organization, you can transmit it to everyone,” he warned, noting that “the size of the company and the duration of the meeting are very important.”
He also referred to the example of other countries that opened before the end of November, there was overcrowding and now they are closing again.
Floros: How the Armed Forces will participate in the rapid tests
The Chief of Staff, Konstantinos Floros, spoke about the participation of the country’s Armed Forces in the program and the development of 130 sampling stations for rapid tests.
According to the general, the stations have been deployed in well-designed areas of the military units, in various cities of the territory, from 97 units of the three branches of the Army, Navy and Air Force, with the assistance of military hospitals, thus covering the 13 administrative districts of the country.
As mentioned by Mr. Floros, as of Monday, all citizens who wish can go to the stations for diagnostic tests, on business days and hours, in accordance with the program of the General Secretariat for Civil Protection.
He added that GGP has delivered the necessary equipment, that is, test kits, personal protective equipment, tablets to the doctors, nurses and secretarial support personnel of the three branches of the Forces, who have attended the stations.
At the same time, the head of GEETHA referred to the seven actions of the Armed Forces with the aim of participating in the fight of the national common front against the new coronavirus for the protection of public health and in particular in the participation of its services to your staff and family.
