Rise in Greek Covid cases_experts making a last-ditch appeal to reluctant citizens to get vaccinated.
The EODY figures are indicative of the pandemic picture, the winter ahead is expected to differ greatly from the last one.
Experts stress that the public frustration from coronavirus indicates that the coming months will be marked by a significant increase in morbidity, both with regard to influenza and possibly coronavirus as well.
"The drop in temperature in the northern hemisphere has brought an increase in cases, which we expected, but is milder due to the high vaccination rate", said Gikas Mayorkinis, Assistant Professor at the Medical School of the University of Athens, Greece.
The epidemiological picture of the country is divided
The spread of the virus in northern Greece remains the area of greatest concern for experts, with hospital and ICU admissions putting pressure on the health system this last week.
The situation in the ICUs in the third and fourth Health Authorities was presented by Mina Ganga, Deputy Minister of Health. She reported that most patients in the intensive care units incubated on mechanical ventilators are unvaccinated.
The same applies for shared wards with high oxygen support, where the majority of patients are unvaccinated.
Chart of coronavirus cases by region
According to EODY data, 703 new cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Attica in the last 24 hours, the centre of Athens is currently exceeding 200 cases (217 infections).
At the same time, Thessaloniki recorded 496 new coronavirus infections, heading to a daily average of 400 cases. It seems that dissemination in Salonica remains at high levels, along with showing increasing trends.
New Coronovirus cases per day
Coronovitus new cases have risen over 258 in Larissa, 123 in Imathia, 136 in Magnesia, 94 in Pieria, 80 in Pella, 80 and 94 in Serres.
However, the rates are also increasing in other regions of Greece, such as Western Greece and the Peloponnese, in particular the regional units of Arcadia, Messinia, Achaia and Aitoloakarnania.
28% increase in epidemiological burden
Vana Papaevangelou, Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and member of the Committee of Experts, remarked during the briefing on the coronavirus pandemic that the epidemiological burden in the country has increased by 28%, along with the rate of positivity.
Referring to Northern Greece, where a significant rate increase is noted, Prof. V. Papaevangelou pointed out that in the case of northern Greece differs from other regions of the country.
In Thessaloniki the epidemiological burden is at high levels, although signs of stability have been noted. New hospital admissions have increased by 30%. All over northern Greece there is increasing pressure on the health system, where the coverage of ICUs is up to 90%.
The case is that the Commission's coronavirus experts are taking a wait-and-see approach, as the full picture of the pandemic, whether it is on the rise, will be becoming clear in early November.
Coronavirus is not just flu
Prof. V. Papaevangelou also presented data from a major review on the long-term consequences of coronavirus, making clear that the infection is not as simple as a respiratory infection.
She said that one in two Covid recoverers noted symptoms including chronic fatigue, joint pain, anxiety and brain fog, for as long as six months later and concluded saying: "The Coronavirus infection is not plain flu".