Greece: Omicron "scans" 18 to 30 year olds

The number of young people in mechanical support is also increasing - 55% of the 629 intubated belong to the ages 18-64 years

meth3 Covid-19, Omicron mutation, new measures

The domestic spread of the variant is estimated at 70%, according to the statements of the professor of Microbiology Athanasios Tsakris

Young and productive age three in four cases - The number of young people in mechanical support is also rising - 55% of the 629 intubated are aged 18-64 years

A record 9.284 cases of coronavirus are being completed today with a year of vaccinations with Operation Freedom, the "main weapon" and "the only means" as experts point out that the five-digit number of new infections expected to be the daily rate of spread due to Omicron variant, to burden the health system as little as possible. Already, according to statements by the professor of Microbiology EKPA, Mr. Athanasios Tsakris, at protothema.gr, the domestic spread of the variant is estimated at 70%.

"The past year is also characterized by grief for our fellow human beings who lost because they did not receive or refused the offer of the vaccine", commented during today's briefing by the Ministry of Health, the Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics and Chairman of the National Vaccination Committee, Mrs. Maria Theodoridou, for a hard pandemic figure for the majority of the 15.943 deaths of patients with COVID-19 in 365 days, after the 66 announced earlier by the National Organization of Public Health (EODY).

The Minister of Health, Mr. Thanos, requested attention, observance of measures, vaccinations and, especially after exposure to a high risk environment for coronavirus infection, control or even avoid meeting with people over 60 years of age and "certainly if they are not vaccinated". Side for the next few days, when announcing new measures to avoid the risk of the imminent prevalence of the Omicron variant, less pressure on the health system and limitation of human losses.

Measures: What changes from January 3

From January 3, 2022, the new package of restrictive measures announced by the minister is activated, with an initial duration until the 16th of the month, on the one hand because the pressure in hospitals is not worrying, on the other hand to avoid family conflicts during the New Year. entertainment and recreation indoors ", as he explained.

The new measures provide for:

- mandatory use of a mask of high respiratory protection (KN95, FFP2) or double mask (surgical or fabric) in supermarkets, MMMs and restaurant staff. (Recommendation for their use in paint parts)

- Opening hours until 00:00 (midnight) for entertainment and dining, without standing, with a maximum of six people per table and metric distances. In case of violation of the measure, a ban on music is currently allowed

- capacity 10% with a maximum of 1.000 people in sports facilities where non-compliance with the measures has been observed, with non-compliance "automatically" entailing the organization behind closed doors.

- mandatory negative PCR test (molecular test) 48 hours for visit to Elderly Care Units (MFI) and care structures for the chronically ill

- stricter conditions for visits to hospitals and a ban on medical visitors

- teleworking up to 50% in public and private sector with rolling hours, based on the capabilities of each service.

Young and productive age 3 in 4 cases

Half of the current cases are located in Attica (4.038), with the Center of 1.264 new infections now consistently exceeding the almost equal Peripheral Unit (PE) of Thessaloniki (1.048 cases) and all its areas, except West Attica (125) and the Islands Argosaronikos (32), to record a higher dispersion - at least twice as much - than the most burdened in the rest of the country, such as the prefectures of Achaia (231) and Heraklion (221).

The transmission of the virus to the younger and productive ages 18-59 years -mainly 18 to 30- due to the increased mobility is now reflected in the epidemiological data. As Mr. Plevris mentioned, they concern three out of four cases (75%) while one in five (30%) are under 18 years old. In contrast, only 6% of the spread concerns adults aged 60 and over.

Many are also the youngest in mechanical respiratory support, with 55% of the 629 intubated today belonging to the ages of 18-64 years.

Although the admissions of new patients in the last 24 hours were below 300 (289) and the dominance of Omicron is estimated to mean a milder disease COVID-19"We must keep in mind that, due to the high increased transmissibility of the strain, it can significantly burden the health systems," said Ms. Theodoridou, adding that the third dose is the main weapon in dealing with the variant.

According to Mr. Themistocleous, 4.365.000 citizens have received the booster dose (75,6% of the beneficiaries), while since the beginning of the "Freedom" operation, 17.060.000 vaccinations have been carried out, 7.415.000 have been vaccinated with first dose (70,6%) and 7.000.000 have completed their vaccination (66,4%).

At the same time, developments are underway and more than 120.000 appointments for the 5-11 age group are now available on the platform for the month of January, following confirmation from Pfizer for the delivery of pediatric vaccines on January 3rd.

[SOURCE]