Greece’s Health Ministry is on high alert and particularly concerned after the sharp increase of corona virus infections in Italy over the last few days. Preparing preventive measures at the gateways to neighboring country, the ministry has called for an extraordinary emergency meeting early Sunday evening.
Staff of shipping companies at the western ports of Patras and Igoumenitsa that connect Greece with Italy as well as of Piraeus “will be trained by the EU Healthy Gateways program on measures to take for incoming passengers at ports and airports, the Health Ministry said in a statement issued on Sunday.
The training is scheduled to take place in Piraeus next Thursday.
At the emergency meeting, officials will examine the latest news as it “continues its targeted awareness campaign for visitors arriving from third countries to Greece, by issuing new brochures and posters for airports and ports,” the ministry said.”
It added that it remained in daily contact with the World Health Organization and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
All health authorities in Greece – including hospitals, health centers and the public ambulance service – are on the alert, the ministry added.
Three people died and 132 infection cases have been recorded mainly in northern Italy in the last couple of days. Villages are in quarantine, public buildings and schools are to remain closed for one week and the famous Carnival of Venice has been cancelled.
There is currently no consideration to impose check controls within the Schengen countries.
Since the outbreak of coronavirus in China, more than 100 suspected samples have been tested in Greece, all ‘negative.’
Two Greeks repatriated from cruise ship Diamond Princess on Saturday were also tested ‘negative’ on corona virus, the Greek Health Ministry said.
Late on Sunday, the Education Ministry decided to cancel all school excursions to Italy.
UPDATE: At the meeting on Sunday, health authorities and the ministry decided for the time being to not take any extraordinary measures such as temperature-screening of all passengers coming from Italy.
They will focus on an information campaign for the public.
A WHO team will be in Patras and Igoumenitsa on Feb 24-25,2020, to inform crew on commercial ships and merchant vessels about protective measures. They will also inform crew and passengers to identify if somebody visited the virus-stricken areas in Italy before the lock down.
Washing your hands properly is one of the best ways to protect against infections like the new #coronavirus – here’s how 👇
(Tip: it should take about twice as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” 🎶) pic.twitter.com/1SFYG96NBQ
— BBC World Service (@bbcworldservice) February 20, 2020
