Greece surpassed the threshold of 1,000 and 95 new confirmed coronavirus cases increased the number of total infections to 1,016. At the same time, the death toll reached 32 on Saturday after 28 a day earlier. Worth noting that the first case in the country was confirmed on February 26, the second on March 4 .
Among the 32 dead were 25 men and 7 women; average age was 73, spokesman of Natonal Health Organization Sotiris Tsiodras said during the daily coronavirus briefing.
A total of 14,363 diagnostic tests have been performed since the beginning of the outbreak end of February.
From the 69 patients hospitalized in Intensive Care Units, 65 are intubated.
So far, 52 people have been discharged from the designated hospitals.
Among the new cases is a monk from Mt Athos, currently treated in AHEPA hospital in Thessaloniki.
With regards to the treatment of COVID-19 patients, Tsiodras said that “We have adopted a new version of the therapeutic protocol. It will be updated based on international data.”
He referred to cardio-toxicity caused by the new virus and said “it is not known how the virus is cardiotoxic. We give specific medicine given also by other scientists abroad and are hopeful to prevent complications.”
” Chloroquine based medicine is given with strict criteria and monitoring, Tsiodras said adding that “important is also the way laboratory testing is carried out, which is now done everywhere with strict criteria.”
About pregnant women, Tsiodras said that special monitoring and medication are recommended only if there are complications. It is essential that newborn, according to the known cases, do not die.”
“Greece is in a good scenario. The bad scenario of Italy is not followed. Exact estimates of the virus spread in Greece will be made later. Today we also have diagnoses through tests for people with mild symptoms and we cannot have accurate spread estimates,” Tsiodras said.
“It seems that the virus can persist even after healing. However, international organizations are now advising patients to leave the hospital after seven days, and follow specific hygiene guidelines,” he noted.
He hailed “nurses and other staff in the hospitals like cleaners, stretch-carriers, and administrative personnel who work beyond their powers.”
Head of Civil Protection Nikos Hardalias threatened that any specific open market (laiki) will close down if social distancing measures are not kept.
More on coronavirus in Greece and lockdown measures here.
