Lockdown only locally, in sectors or social activities, says Greek epidemiologist

New Greek lifestyle begin today, August 1, with mandatory use of mask in all enclosed spaces and strong recommendation of use of mask also outdoors. The government was enforced to impose new restrictions at the peak of summer vacations due to a recent spike of coronavirus cases.

Infectious disease specialists have sounded the alarm bells long ago as the situation seems to be getting out of control.

But what’s next? Greeks are worried that a new general lockdown like in spring may be imposed again, although the government has repeatedly ruled such an option out. The government does not want to or doesn’t have the money to finance another coronavirus crisis.

So, what’s next if the pandemic starts raging again? So far, epidemiologists have proposed lockdown to be imposed locally in cluster areas, as it has been done in the past. Yet, there are also other options such as ‘sector lockdown” or “social lockdown.”

Athanasios Tsakris, microbiology professor the medical school of EKPA admitted that there is “an upward trend” of the pandemic in Greece as in other European countries.

“This i but it is something to be expected, we expected it. “All this shows that we should not focus so much on closing the borders, but mainly each country should take its local measures such as the use of a mask, the correct laboratory control regardless of whether the borders are open or closed,” he told ANT1 TV.

“We can not go to a general lockdown anymore, the economy demands it not only in Greece but also internationally. The measures should have a local geographical character, a specific professional social or a social activity and should significantly help to address and reduce the spread without affecting the economy,” Tsakris said speaking to ANT1 TV on Friday evening.

He added that “ff we see that some social or professional activities are affecting the spread then we should intervene locally and take specific actions that will prevent the spread of the epidemic.”

Tsakris stressed that it is more that younger people, who have been hardest hit socially and economically, “did not show the necessary attention. They must understand their social responsibility towards the society and the older people.’

He said that health experts are reviewing the data and the measures effectiveness every two weeks. “From now on we have to have a  very good laboratory network so that we can know exactly in which geographical areas” the cases surge.

He warned that things will start getting more difficult in autumn when other respiratory viruses circulate.