Greece’s health authorities announced 71 new confirmed cases of coronavirus and 3 more deaths on Thursday. The total number of infections is 1,955 and the death toll at 86.
Short time after the daily briefing, another patient died in a hospital in Thessaloniki raising the number of deaths to 87. the 79-year-old man was from the village Messopotamia by Kastoria, that has been placed under quarantine since last week.
At the same time the number of intubated patients has decreased to 79 from 84 a day earlier. A total of 16 patients have been discharged from the ICUs.
Of the total cases, 518 were infected abroad and 734 in Greece. 30% of those tested positive on COVID-19 are aged 18-39, 35% are 40-59 and 21% over 65.
Among the 86 deaths, 86% had underlying health issues. the average age of the deceased was over 70 years. 23 were women.
The average age of intubated patients is 67 years., 77% of them have underlying health issues.
33,634 tests have been conducted nationwide since the outbreak of the coronavirus end of February.
Spokesman of National Health Organization and Professor for Infectious Diseases Sotiris Tsiodras said that the use of gloves and masks by the general population is not advisable as the non-proper use may have reverse effect.
He drew attention to the fact that people do not wash their hands with soap and water thinking they are fully protected with the gloves. “But gloves can transmit the virus as well, either because they can have small holes or because we touch our face up to 23 times per hour,” Tsiodras stressed.
Also the masks can give a false sense of protection, he added.
Head of Civil Protection Nikos Hardalias made clear that churches will be closed to the faithful over the Holy Week and Easter.
