As a pupil of the eye, they are protected during these difficult times Armed forces against the coronavirus pandemic. The reasons are obvious. No state would want officers and lotteries to get sick from the new strain of the flu, especially when you have a country on your eastern border with a population eight times larger than your own that plots the border at every opportunity.
In both the Evros and the Aegean, infantry and naval units, respectively, are constantly on the lookout for Turkey. The last thing they would like is for cases to occur coronavirus We have been on alert since February 29, a day when our neighbors brought thousands of migrants to the border to send them to our country, which they see as the easiest gateway to Western Europe.
Dead 46-year-old paramedic from the disease
Unfortunately, just in the early hours of last Thursday, the 25th of the month, a 46-year-old Greek Army paramilitary who was serving in Xanthi, where he came from, died of the coronavirus. He was taken to the University Hospital of Alexandroupolis for help but the battle was unequal. The bad news was conveyed to the army by the commander of the unit, during the morning report
There are few cases of people being quarantined
According to secure information from the Ministry of National Defense, where coronavirus cases were detected, they were immediately quarantined while those who came in contact with them were isolated as a precaution. For example, he was a Navy officer serving in the Salamis naval base and as soon as he showed the first symptoms of the disease he went home, as well as those who had intercourse with him. In fact, the controversial fortnight has already passed without complications. The problem is that while new measures are constantly being taken in order not to multiply new measures, this is not always easy as in some units or warships scheduling is inevitable.
Oaths without relatives
Just last Tuesday the swearing-in of the ESSO of March in Army took place without the presence of relatives and friends of the soldiers. The drawers took the legal oath keeping safety distances from each other, about two meters, something that happened as much as possible in the units. Apart from the interested parties, only the commander, the priest and the flag bearer were present.
They will be fired half a month earlier
The General Staff of the National Defense also decided not to give the young people the fortnightly swearing-in permit, because there was a risk that they would go home, catch one or more of them the coronavirus and then transport it to the camp with all that entails for the rest. So the 15-day leave is expected to be obtained shortly before dismissal. In essence, they will be fired half a month earlier.
Positive that they are young in age
The good thing, of course, is that the drawers are young anyway, most of them 18 years old who have just finished high school, who statistically and based on all the studies, even if they are infected with the coronavirus, pass the disease much more easily than the older ones. , like a simple cold - without always excluding exceptions. However, members of the Health Directorate of the General Staff of the National Defense together with the Chief Infectious Diseases Specialist of the Armed Forces participate in the planning of the decisions of the scientific committee set up by the Ministry of Health under Professor Sotirios Tsiodras.
Easter leave probably… yok this year
The decision not to grant Easter leave this year to conscripts and officers who logically wanted to spend those days with their families should also be considered almost taken. The relevant permit will probably be obtained at an unsuspecting time sometime in the future, when the risk of a pandemic has passed. The relevant decision will be "locked" in the coming days.
Exercises are canceled
Furthermore. exercises are canceled wherever and whenever appropriate. Last Tuesday, March 24, on the eve of the national anniversary, it was canceled following a meeting between the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Panayotopoulos, and the chiefs of staff, the multinational mid-range air exercise "Driver 2020", scheduled to take place from 11 to 22 May due to the pandemic of Covid-19 and the preventive measures taken by our country ", as emphasized in a relevant announcement of GEETHA. If deemed appropriate, there will be other corresponding cancellations that will not have a direct impact on the combat readiness of the army.
The meal is in groups
Another change that exists is the way the feeding is done. There are no longer these endless queues of conscripts waiting with the tray in hand to get breakfast, lunch or dinner from the kitchen. Now they enter groups of 10 to 15 people at a time when they keep a safe distance from each other and eat at the tables without being "stuck", as was the case before.
Disinfections everywhere
It goes without saying that all the camps, units and personnel offices are regularly disinfected at this time in both the island country and the mainland. Border services in particular receive frequent visits from disinfection workshops to eliminate the risk of the virus spreading.
Accessible to all military hospitals
I don't military hospitals are on alert and the licenses of the nursing staff have been suspended in most of them. Besides, due to the prevailing situation, ordinary citizens also gain access to what is in both Athens and Thessaloniki (401 GSNA, 251 GNA, NNA, 417 NIMITS and 424 GSNE). However, the number of people to be admitted to each of them will depend on the fullness of the beds and taking into account the need for a sufficient number of vacant beds to serve the emergency of military personnel and other beneficiaries.
Antiseptics and masks are made
Today also marks a week since the start of the production of antiseptics in the 441 ABYY (Sanitary Base Warehouse) located on Piraeus Street, in the area of Tavros, in order to meet the needs of the country. Due to this, part of the approximately 120 tons of confiscated ethyl alcohol that the Independent Public Revenue Authority has in the Armed Forces was granted, while in the "battle" the 700 S.E. has been thrown. (Military Factory that will produce protective face masks.
The stress of conscripts due to coronavirus
Another factor to consider is the stress that compulsory incarceration and the suspension of exit permits can create on some conscripts. A topical question of 34 SYRIZA MPs was submitted to the Parliament on Thursday to the Minister of National Defense, asking them to find out what measures will be taken to improve the mental health of the conscripts and the Armed Forces executives from the compulsory restraint and essentially "confinement" without possibilities of expenses, entertainment, etc. ", given the fact that" at the beginning of the month thousands of young citizens showed up in the enlistment camps to serve their compulsory military service ".
Further involvement of the Army?
Finally, it is not ruled out that in the near future the Army will be even more actively involved, in case additional measures are required to deal with the coronavirus. As the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, said meaningfully, "I hope there is no need, because you know the Armed Forces must be out there to guard the borders of the homeland. This is their main mission, but beyond that, we will see what else will need to be done ".