Omicron variant – New severe measures for the unvaccinated

It is expected that the daily lives of the unvaccinated citizens will change with the new measures that are being discussed by the infectious disease specialists, if and when adopted by the Greek Government in the near future.

The new measures are being examined given the difficult period that our country is going through, in terms of the pandemic, with the cases moving at very high rates and the Omicron variant prevailing.

The above was confirmed by the Deputy Minister of Interior, Mr. Stelios Petsas, speaking today to SKAI channel.

“The government will do what is needed”

Mr. Petsas stressed that the new measures concern the effort of the Greek government to stop the spread of the Omicron variant while, at the same time, the social and economic activity of the country will continue without major problems.

He also explained that in addition to the issue of extending the mandatory vaccination, more restrictions are expected to be imposed for the unvaccinated ones.

“The government will do what is needed. I hope we do not have to take any other measures ,if we all comply with the simple measure: to go and get the vaccine”, he stressed characteristically.

Omicron variant is testing the strengths of the National Health System

It should be noted that the rapid spread of Omicron variant, has created shortages in medical staff, while, at the same time, problems have arisen with single Covid beds.  It should be noted that the daily average of 7-day admissions rose vertically to 511 patients, and in order to deal with the pressure, in Attica, about 800 single Covid beds are added. Concerning the nursing staff that have tested positive for Covid-19, next Wednesday, the recruitment of private doctors in Macedonia and Thrace will begin, in the specialties of pulmonologists, pathologists, anesthesiologists and general practitioner so as to deal with the staff shortages.

Why new measures are being considered

The reason why the government is expected to take new measures is, that according to the available data on the course of the pandemic in Greece, the next two to three weeks are the ones where we will see the great peak of cases, given that, during these weeks, we will see the impact of the festivities during the holidays season.

More measures will have to be taken to contain this wave and they are expected to be announced early next week.

The measures that have been taken

The new Covid-19 variant brought an explosion of cases and this, in turn, led to a new, lower ceiling in the price of PCR tests, as well as changes in the way the disease certificate is issued.

Also, the health protocols for schools, which open on Monday, January 10, were changed, while the outbreak of Covid-19 also affected the celebration of the Epiphany.

New measures

According to the information of MEGA channel, the government, as well as the infectious disease specialists are discussing the new measures in order to limit the spread of the deadly virus.

These measures will focus mainly on restaurants and cafés, as well as on mandatory vaccination.

What is being discussed is to reduce the number of customers in the stores.

The second measure is that the unvaccinated ones won’t be allowed to sit in the outdoors areas of cafés and restaurants.

It is noted that until now the unvaccinated ones could only sit in the outdoors areas of cafés and restaurants, with the demonstration of a negative rapid test.

Regarding the extension of the mandarory vaccination, the Greek government is discussing the likelihood of the vaccine being obligatory for ages 50 or 55 years old and over.

Both of these age groups have shown a slight increase in vaccination, but have not yet reached the desired point, such as those aged 65 and over.