Greece’s health authorities announced on Thursday, 721 new coronavirus cases and another 49 deaths in the last 24 hours. The number of Covid-19 patients intubated in hospitals across the country stands at 386.
Death toll has reached 5,195 and the total cases stand at 143,494.
Among the latest fatalities are 10 people in the age category 40-64.
The current lockdown restrictions, however, with primary schools open have been extended until Jan 18, 2021. More here.
Extended have been also the 7-day quarantine and the travel restrictions for international flight passenger until Jan 21. Details here.
Live Briefing
At the live briefing on Friday evening, health authorities said the “hard data” of hospital admissions and Covid-19 infections remain “very concerning.”
The epidemiological burden remains increased in the central sector of Athens, in West Attica, but also in specific areas of the country, the Professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and member of the Committee of Experts, Vana Papaevangelou, stated adding, however, that Greece shows a much better epidemiological picture, compared to the rest of Europe
She stressed that the infectious disease committee is waiting for the imprint left from the Christmas and New Year festivities.
“We are particularly concerned about the increase in cases among people aged 25-35,” she said stressing that this is a consequence of the holidays.
In terms of “hard indicators”, there is a small increase in the number of patients, 20-25% since November. The number of intubated is expected to increase in the next 7-10 days.
In Attica the number of diagnoses shows stabilization with mild fluctuations.
“It is clear that if we let the third wave develop and if we do not pay attention, we will easily return to the levels of November,” Papaevangelou said.
“The health system has been decongested, but over the last ten days this has been slower,” said Health Ministry spokesman and Infectious Disease Assistant professor Gkikas Majiorkinis.
He said that the virus mutation found in Britain has now migrated to 40 countries.
Note: the number of people infected with the mutated Covid-19 strain has increased to 8 and all are travelers from UK and Dubai.
The experts said that there are currently 7,000 active cases through out the country. ICU occupancy remains high, ie 60% across the country and and 70% in Northern Greece.
Official data January 8
According to the official daily bulletin on Friday, 5579(3.9%) of the total coronavirus cases are related to travel abroad and 43251 (30.1%) are related to already known infection case.
The remaining infections are without known source.
52.2% of the infected are men.
The number of intubated patients in ICUs stands at 386 from 391 a day earlier. Their average age is 68, among them are 265 (68.7%) men. 85.2% have underlying health problems or are aged over 70.
950 people have been discharged from ICUs since the start of the pandemic in Greece.
Another 49 deaths in the last 24 hours increased death toll to 5195. Of the deceased 3072 (59.1%) were men. The average age of the deceased was 79 and 95.5% of the deceased had an underlying condition or/and was over 70 years old.
Rolling weekly average cases at 579 from 657 last week.
Total tests since begin of the outbreak are 2870898 PCR and 669250 Rapid Ag tests
PRC Tests in last 24 hours: 11,857
Rapid tests last 24 hours: 24,601
Positivity PCR+Rapid tests: 1.98%
Rt: 0.71
Daily growth at +0.5%
Geographical distribution January 8
Of the 721 new coronavirus cases, 8 were detected at the country’s entry points.
8 of the new cases were detected at entry points, ? more travelers were already in the country.
14 regional units have double-digit infections
The remaining cases are:
252 Attica of them 98 in Athens downtown
94 Thessaloniki
4 under investigation
31 Larissa 25 Viotia23 Serres
20 Kozani 19 Fthiotida
Each 18 Imathi, Karditsa
Each 15 Lesvos, Trikala
Each 14 Evros, Magnisia
13 Xanthi
Each 11 Lasithi, Rodopi
10 Evia
Each 8 Rethymno, Pieria
Each 7 Kavala, Chania
Each 6 Kilkis, Pella
Each 5 Ioannina, Attica islands, Halkidiki, Florina
Each 4 Achaia
Each 3 Arcadia, Argolida, Heraklio, Corinth
Each 2 Drama, Kastoria
Each 1 Grevena, zakynthos, Thesprotia, Corfu, Lakonia, Chios
Map of infections per 100,000 people in the last 14 days, according to regional units – based on infected permanent or temporary residence – more charts here. Added are also charts about infections according to regions
More information on coronavirus in Greece here.
