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With the mutated strain of the coronavirus halting the spread of the pandemic and the healthcare system under pressure, citizens are being asked to manage the situation for the next two months. The harsh quarantine and vaccination they are the weapons against the pandemic, with the government marking a new milestone at Easter.
App emergency shutdown Two weeks that began Thursday morning in Attica are expected to act as a breakwater for the transmission of the coronavirus, giving the Basin hospitals valuable time to attend to the hundreds of cases.
However, scientists already warn that more time and extension of the quarantine may be needed after February 28. In fact, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis devised a “fan” system until Easter, saying there is a chance that the economy will open and close every two weeks, until vaccination proceeds, and so on in early May. the pandemic. the adventure will begin to head towards its end.
Experts’ estimates point to an expansion of the “lock”, as they warn of an increase in hospitalizations in the coming days, before the “imprint” of the new measures begins to appear.
With this data, therefore, the image that prevailed in Attica on the first day of the strict closure can only function as an aggravating factor. The images from the streets were not at all like those of last March, when the universal blockade measures were implemented for the first time in the Basin, with the extension of the strict measures – if mobility continues to be so disappointing in the next days- to consider prescribed. 
The case rate is at high levels
The image of an escalation, which led to the decision to restore the total blockade in Attica, is reflected in the epidemiological data of the country and especially in the Basin.
On Thursday, the case rate remained at roughly the same high levels, registering 1,327 new infections across the country. Almost half are constantly in Attica, which counted 650, while the data in Thessaloniki is still in the focus of experts, as there was a new increase in cases compared to yesterday. Indeed, tomorrow relevant government decisions are expected to impose or not stricter measures.
Indicative of the situation in the Basin were the results of the study of urban wastewater. According to the professor of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Athens, Nikos Thomaidis, the bodies (symptomatic and asymptomatic) are estimated at between 80,000 and 90,000 in Attica. 
As Mr. Thomaidis said, an increase in hospital admissions is expected in the coming days, while from next week the reduction in dispersion due to the new measures is expected to be reflected in the indicators. Regarding the possibility of an extension, he noted that previous experience had shown that it took five weeks.
The Professor of Environmental Engineering at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Demosthenes Sarigiannis, advanced in the same direction, expressing the assessment that if the closure measures are implemented correctly, the cases in Attica can be reduced until the beginning of March, even to 100 to 150 per day. Regarding the duration of the confinement, he stated that if it lasts four weeks, the decompression in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) will be better.
For her part, the professor of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases and member of the Committee, Maria Tsolia, did not rule out an extension of the measures either. To be able to reopen, the professor made a condition of reducing daily cases and stopping the increase in hospital admissions. “We anticipate an increase in imports in the next few days, before we see a decrease,” he said.
In a more pessimistic assessment, Nikos Tzanakis, a professor of pulmonology who monitors the pandemic through a diagnostic model, noted that cases were predicted to rise again and reach the current level. According to the forecasting model, by early March coronavirus cases will have risen to 2,400.
Mr. Tzanakis pointed out that the model does not include the confinement in which we find ourselves now, however “the predictions it makes are almost ruled out since the measures we are taking today have a delay of two to two and a half weeks to give their mark. “. 
Attica “blushed”
The epidemiological situation of Attica is also reflected in the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, since it includes the Basin in the red zones, although it keeps the rest of the country in the “yellow” and the Epirus region in the ” green “.
The periphery of the capital is colored “red”, which means that there are at least 150 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
In terms of the positivity index, Greece remains in the “green”, while most of Europe is in the “yellow”. This means that throughout the territory the positivity rate is below the alarm threshold of 4%, unlike the rest of Europe where the rate is higher than 4.
ECDC maps are updated every Thursday, in accordance with the European Council Recommendation aimed at implementing a coordinated approach among EU countries to restrict free movement to cope with the pandemic. 
Up to 100% more traffic
However, images of the streets of Athens on Thursday are not reminiscent of those in March last year, when universal closure measures were first implemented in the basin.
According to data published by the Attica Region, mobility was recorded increased by up to 100% on main roads, moving on average 50% above the respective percentages on the first closing day of March 2020.
It should be noted that the relevant data is the result of the use of 1000 meters that the Attica Region has installed on the main roads under its jurisdiction. 
Specifically, the roads that registered the greatest increase compared to 03-23-2020 are:
- Av. Vas. Sofias + 109.6%
- L. Poseidonos + 92.9%
- Kifissou Avenue + 87.9%
The regional governor, George Patoulis, called this data “impressive”, noting, however, that it “causes concern as we compared traffic data from two run-ins of approximately the same type.” With the help of our team of transport specialists and using all available technological means, we study and use the data that arise. We will continue to serve the citizens and take care of the improvement of their quality of life ”.
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