Thoughts on the extension of the blockade until December 21

The lifting of the confinement is becoming a two-dimensional puzzle for the government, with the number of people admitted to the ICU for the first time topping 600 and deaths reaching 100.

In the absence of signs of a drastic reduction in cases, the scenarios for another extension of the quarantine until December 21 have fallen on the table and are being seriously discussed.

The fact that the viral load remains high is problematic, mainly in northern Greece, although surveys carried out on the sewage system in Thessaloniki show a 50% reduction in the load for the next week.

According to government spokesman Stelios Petsas, the viral load shows increasing trends in some areas and this is a reason for the government to “slow down” the lifting of the measures.

At the same time, the government spokesman said yesterday that “the government, with the help of experts, is closely monitoring developments and will announce the next steps in the joint effort, when it has more data on the course of the pandemic.” “The objective remains the same: that the Greeks meet with the vaccine standing and healthy and from the spring of 2021, with the good one, to open a new era for our country,” he stressed.

“At some point next week there will be announcements about the plan to remove the blockade. In this gradual lifting there is also the planning of the schools,” replied Mr. Petsas to the journalists’ questions. “If necessary, we plan cooperate with the private sector and then the order. We treat the country as a health region, ”he added, emphasizing that he expects vaccination in Greece to be complete in June.

As for schools, they are the first on the list to open. As the Prime Minister said yesterday in a teleconference with primary school students, “next week we will have better news to tell you.”

After schools, it will be the retailer’s turn and then catering, but how it will be done has not yet been clarified, as, according to government officials, “no date is given.”