Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced four measures for the pandemic, with the first being the mandatory vaccination of health workers and workers in nursing homes. In fact, employees in nursing homes are expected to be suspended if they insist on not being vaccinated. Sanctions are expected to be announced tomorrow for the "negative" health workers in a press conference of the Ministers of Health Vassilis Kikilias and Digital Government Kyriakos Pierrakakis.
The four measures, as announced by Mr. Mitsotakis are:
1. Immediate vaccination of employees in nursing homes becomes mandatory, which is the most vulnerable category. Those who do not do so will be suspended from work from August 16 onwards. Why can't those who are supposed to protect those who are most at risk be the same potential bearers of that risk?
2. From 1 September, the compulsory vaccination will also apply to health professionals, in the public and private sectors. It is unthinkable, for example, for an unvaccinated nurse to care for an immunosuppressed cancer patient. I am sure that a large part of society agrees with this decision. And I ask all parties to support it without asterisks and reservations.
3. Special provision is obtained for the Armed Forces. From now on, permanent and conscripts will have the opportunity, but also incentives, to be vaccinated in their units. Whenever the first ones want it and with their enlistment the second ones. This is because life in the army is by nature a group one and therefore co-creation is inevitable.
4. From Friday until the end of August, all indoor areas, nightclubs and bars, cinemas and theaters, will be open exclusively for vaccinated. And with an increased, but predetermined, number of visitors. Then the digital application will work, which will easily certify if the citizen has been vaccinated. This is a practice already followed by countries such as Denmark, Germany, Austria and Luxembourg.
This means that during the summer, recreation, whether outdoors or indoors, will only involve sitting and not standing, so that the transmission of the virus is not favored. The stores will now have the possibility of more table seats. But the controls will be very strict.
The full text of the Prime Minister's message follows:
My fellow citizens,
Eighteen months after the first attack of the pandemic, our country now has vaccines immediately available to every citizen and in every corner of Greece. Their safety and effectiveness have already been proven by the billions of doses given worldwide. And Operation Freedom is spreading across the territory, bringing closer to the goal that at least 70% of our adult population has been vaccinated during the summer.
Two shadows, however, prevent our rapid and definitive exit from the test: the emergence of the aggressive coronavirus delta mutation and a percentage of citizens who are still reluctant to be vaccinated. It is a double threat that concerns all countries today, forcing some of them to return to strict restrictions. Even the Olympic Games for the first time will be without spectators and with quarantine for the few visitors.
We must not allow this to happen in our place! As scientists warn that in a little while we will all either be vaccinated or get sick, the solution is one: let this end come without further pain. It is also indicated by those who today give their fight in the Intensive Care Units, which are 99% unvaccinated. Therefore, it is not panic that shows the way, but vaccination.
The country will not be shut down again by the attitude of some. It will give freedom to many. And protection for all. Because it is not Greece that is in danger, but the unvaccinated Greeks.
For what has been done and what still needs to be done, let me be a little more detailed today. The moments demand it, but also the effort to which we are called now. Because it is always my duty to present the facts openly and to document my decisions with facts.
After a year and a half no one can claim that they do not know about the coronavirus. From the first moment, the State launched a series of information campaigns under the guidance of experts. Each time, it adapted its policies to the outbreaks of the virus, while supporting society and the economy. Shield the Health System, but also the citizens, with millions of free tests. And of course, it provided vaccines for everyone, with an innovative digital system.
That is why today we are at a much better starting point: in the field of health, 3 out of 4 Greeks over 60, two out of 3 over 45 and 1 in 2 over 30 have chosen the vaccine. And in recent days the pace is accelerating. While in the economy the growth of the next two years is predicted to be one of the highest in Europe. In tourism, in particular, the arrivals at "Eleftherios Venizelos" exceeded, in the last few days, 50% of the total arrivals of 2019.
I therefore want to be clear: having those who are not vaccinated, this right, will not lead the place to universal prohibitions. Let them listen to the young people who use the Freedom Pass. From the day after tomorrow, in fact, the ages 15 to 17 begin to be vaccinated. Let them listen to the Church, which isolates the few voices against its neighbor. Let them listen to the professional bodies, who ask for the work to return to normal. But let the millions of women and men who want to live in health and freedom listen.
My fellow citizens,
I have emphasized that the government will serve the protection of public health with conviction, but also with measures that will restore normalcy in everyday life. That is why today I am announcing a series of regulations that respond to the current situation. That is, they try to limit the spread of the virus before, possibly, again besieging the Health System. To give back to the vaccinated their rights. And finally, to push those who are still thinking about the vaccine.
Thus, first, the immediate vaccination of workers in nursing homes becomes mandatory, which is the most vulnerable category. Those who do not do so will be suspended from work from August 16 onwards. Why can't those who are supposed to protect those who are most at risk be the same potential bearers of that risk?
Secondly, from September 1, the compulsory vaccination will also apply to health professionals, in the public and private sectors. It is unthinkable, for example, for an unvaccinated nurse to care for an immunosuppressed cancer patient. I am sure that a large part of society agrees with this decision. And I ask all parties to support it without asterisks and reservations.
Third, special provision is obtained for the Armed Forces. From now on, permanent and conscripts will have the opportunity, but also incentives, to be vaccinated in their units. Whenever the first ones want it and with their enlistment the second ones. This is because life in the army is by nature a group one and therefore co-creation is inevitable.
Fourth, from Friday until the end of August, all indoor areas, nightclubs and bars, cinemas and theaters, will operate exclusively for vaccinated. And with an increased, but predetermined, number of visitors. Then the digital application will work, which will easily certify if the citizen has been vaccinated. This is a practice already followed by countries such as Denmark, Germany, Austria and Luxembourg.
This means that during the summer, recreation, whether outdoors or indoors, will only involve sitting and not standing, so that the transmission of the virus is not favored. The stores will now have the possibility of more table seats. But the controls will be very strict.
These are four options for the health of the employees themselves and those around them. At the same time, however, for decisions that give freedoms to those who deserve them. While at the same time they constitute an act of justice to the majority of citizens who act with social responsibility and sensitivity. And one more thing: they have courage but also a moderate escalation. And they are simple and understandable.
It is time for us all to unite around a common reality. And then we will find that common rules do not divide, but unite. On the contrary, only bilingualism and contradictory behaviors sow confusion. So let no one invest in ignorance or anguish. Much more so when the economy puts its machines back on track. And, as I said at the beginning, this year tourism can finally pleasantly surprise us.
My fellow citizens,
I close as I started. United, we have already achieved a lot for which we have every reason to be proud. How many would have bet six months ago that in mid-July 5.300.000 Greeks would have been vaccinated with the first dose? And that about 4.300.000 would already be fully shielded?
And yet, we did it. Now it takes a little more effort. This means that with a new vaccination campaign, especially between those over 60 and our young, our summer will be even better. And the time is now. Because the vaccine takes some time to become our shield. We therefore have the ultimate weapon to stop the coronavirus here, in the fourth letter of the alphabet. Vaccination is now the "per capita debt" of the country.
Freedoms will be gradually restored with the vaccine passport and fixed basic rules: mask when we are with others, even outside, personal hygiene and many tests. While the State will be on alert to monitor local outbreaks, hospital readiness and compliance.
The aim is for the end of the pandemic not to become a prelude to a new ordeal in the fall. We can, therefore, close the last chapter of the health crisis from today, and quickly. Putting everyone's signature with their own hand. It is enough to have the Freedom vaccine in one arm.