“Patient Zero”: Greek authorities seek flight co-passengers, City Council members

Greek authorities are trying to identify and locate everyone who came into contact with “patient zero”, the 38-year-old woman confirmed to be the first person infected with the coronavirus in the country. The woman is quarantine and in negative pressure room in AHEPA hospital in Thessaloniki, northern Greece.

The woman, a fashion entrepreneur, reportedly returned from Milan to Thessaloniki, on a flight of a low cost airliner on Sunday evening.  On board were also many Greek journalists who have also gone to Milan for the Fashion Week.

The following day, she attended a meeting at the City Hall of Thessaloniki as she is also involved in communal  issues.

She was reportedly in good health and spirit, before she noticed temperature rise. She visited a public hospital on Tuesday, however, not the facility where she is now.

“We are now tracing the people this particular woman came into contact with,” Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias said. He added that efforts include tracing the crew and passengers of the flight the woman had taken.

The husband, child and mother of patient zero have been asked to undergo medical tests. They are currently in “voluntary isolation” in their home.

“We are all in good health,  we do not have fever,” her husband who remained anonymous told Star TV.

However, authorities have ordered the temporary closure of the 105th Thessaloniki Elementary School as the 38-year-old patient’s daughter is a pupil there. The school is reportedly to be disinfected in order to limit possible spread of the virus to other pupils.

A co-passenger told Star TV that he has been called by the company and has been advised to stay at home. “I will stay away from work for 14 days, I’ll move to our summer house, I have to protect my family,” the man said. “there were no checks at the [Greek] airport, only at the one in Milan,” he added.

According to media information, a total of 15 people are in isolation in their homes.

At risk are not only her flight co-passengers but also the members of  Thessaloniki City Council and the Municipality workers with whom she came in contact. According to healthreport, all these people will have to be tested as well.

Pathology Professor Eleni Giamarellou is convinced that the “patient zero” has infected also other people.

“The woman came back on Sunday night and was perfectly fine, and so she was on Monday. But the trouble with this virus is the fact that it is transmitted during the incubation stage, when you have absolutely no symptoms,” she told Mega TV.

She stressed that passengers “two rows in front and two behind need to be tested as well as those sitting on the aisles.” She could not tell the percentage of infection, thought.

She described the clinical picture of “patient zero” as “low fever, a bit of soar throat, little coughing, nothing special. It is not one of those cases that need to be treated, she could be at home.”

However, as “she is the first coronavirus case, it needs to be investigated and it is correct that she is hospitalized,” Giamarellou underlined.

Blood samples from two more suspected cases currently being tested on coronavirus, also in Thessaloniki. The ne is form a woman who visited Italy ten days ago, and the other from a foreign national working on the island of Corfu. He was also recently in the neighboring country. He was transferred from Corfu to a hospital in Thessaloniki.

According to Alpha TV, there are currently dozens of “suspected” cases tested on coronavirus.

The first case of the infection in the country prompted shortage of surgical masks in Thessaloniki and sent Greeks to the supermarkets for panic purchases.