New coronavirus cases in Greece have shattered yet another record, with 1,547 confirmed over the past 24 hours.
This is the second consecutive day with over 1,000 new cases
There were also 10 deaths.
The total number of cases since the start of the pandemic is 34,299, with 603 deaths.
There are 108 patients on ventilators.
The expert committee of doctors will convene at noon to take decisions regarding imposing stricter measures, after the negative record number of cases reported in our country. Thessaloniki will be on the focus of attention, with a lockdown probably to be announced later in the day.
The prefectures of Kozani and Ioannina are-as of today- in level 4 on the health safety map, along with Kastoria, due to the steep increase of cases in northern Greece.
The European Commission announced new measures on Wednesday to help limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, save lives and strengthen the internal market’s resilience.
“Concretely, the measures aim to better understand the virus’ spread and the effectiveness of the response, ramp up well-targeted testing, bolster contact tracing, improve preparations for vaccination campaigns, and maintain access to essential supplies such as vaccination equipment, while keeping all goods moving in the single market and facilitating safe travel,” the Commission said in a statement.
The measures were released ahead of a European summit teleconference on October 29 on Covid-19 coordination.
The Commission’s actions include the following:
– Improving the flow of information to allow informed decision-making
– Establishing more effective and rapid testing
– Making full use of contact tracing and warning apps across borders
– Effective vaccination
– Effective communication to citizens
– Securing essential supplies
– Facilitating safe travel
– Green Lanes extension (allowing road freight to cross borders in less than 15 minutes, to maintain supply of goods)
Commenting on the pandemic, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides said the rise in Covid-19 infection rates across Europe “is very alarming” and calls for “decisive immediate action”. She further added that the Commission will “present the first step towards a European Health Union” next month.
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a second national lockdown until at least the end of November.
Mr Macron said that under the new measures, starting on Friday, people would only be allowed to leave home for essential work or medical reasons.
Non-essential businesses, such as restaurants and bars, will close, but schools and factories will remain open.
Covid daily deaths in France are at the highest level since April. On Tuesday, 33,000 new cases were confirmed.
The ministerial council, chaired by the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will convene at 11 this morning, via teleconference.
Besides coronavirus, it will deal with issues related to a new draft law presented by the Ministry of Labor regarding changes in unions operation and labor schedules.
And the weather forecast…
Local rain and occasional thunderstorms are expected in Attica today with a gradual improvement this afternoon. The temperature will reach a maximum of 23 degrees Celsius.
