Greece Records 150 New Coronavirus Cases; New School Year to Begin September 7

It was announced on Monday that 150 new cases of the coronavirus were diagnosed in the country in the last 24 hours, and two Greek citizens have succumbed with the virus in the last day.
Only seven of the 150 cases were picked up by routine checks at the country’s entrance points; all the others are of domestic origin.
Currently, there are 23 Greek citizens, with an average age of 66 years, being treated by intubation at ICUs around the country. Just over half, or 52.2%, suffer from an underlying disease or are 70 years of age or older.
The total number of fatalities for those who have died with the virus is now 230 in Greece. Eighty-one of these were females. The average age for all those who have died is 77 years. More than 95% of these individuals suffered from an underlying disease or were 70 years of age or more.
Over the last months, a total of 136 people have been successfully discharged from ICUs in the country.
Since the beginning of the outbreak, there have been 7,222 individuals diagnosed as positive for the coronavirus, with only 1,692, or 23.4%, of the cases traced to foreign travel. A total of 3,394, or 47%, have been traced back to an already-known case.
Ferry Passengers Test Positive
It was also reported on Monday that three passengers who traveled on the Blue Star 1 ferry from Patmos Island to Piraeus were placed in isolation after two of them were found positive for the coronavirus. The other passengers of the ferry were allowed to disembark normally at Piraeus.
An investigation has now been launched, and depending on the results, the necessary actions will be taken for the rest of the ferry passengers who traveled on that same ship.
The prosecutor has been informed and is awaiting the result of the investigation to find out if the two infected were aware at the time that they were positive or not.
Beginning of School Year Announced
Schools in Greece will begin their new academic year on September 7, government spokesperson Stelios Petsas announced on Monday while speaking to interviewers at OPEN TV.
“We will have to face again the same main challenges,” Petsas said, underscoring that, just as in all other public places “we must observe personal health measures and safety distances.”
The government spokesman left open the possibility for yet more protection measures if needed, adding, however, that we are still not in the condition we were in March, since the average number of incidents in comparison to patients needing intubation and in ICUs is much lower.
Petsas explained that the reason for this is that “The increased incidents have not yet put pressure on the health system.”
Additionally, he said that there will be an extension to the employees and enterprises stricken by the coronavirus support measures and also a wider framework of measures in the direction of tax and contribution reductions.