Mitsotakis – Country will not shut down again due to pandemic; we’ll intensify effort to persuade citizens distrustful of vaccines

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis appeared during a nationally televised press briefing early Sunday afternoon at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) venue, a day after a state-of-the-economy address replete with numerous tax breaks and reduced state fees on various goods and service, at least for a specific time frame.

In answer to a bevy of reporters’ questions, Mitsotakis noted that:

–         Eight out of 10 educators in the country are already vaccinated for Covid-19

–         Intent is for schools to remain open

–         The vaccinations are effective

–         Self-tests are an important tool

–         “Hope we do not have to close schools, of course, no one can foresee what will happen in the future.

–         We have not seen the last of the pandemic, “the country will not be shut down again, we’ll have masks with us for some time more; we’ll insist on our strategy of vaccinations and persuasion… Without ruling out anything, it is not in our intention to expand obligatory vaccination to other categories of citizens… we’ll intensify our effort to persuade citizens who are distrustful, that vaccinations are safe, while those who are not vaccinated put their lives at risk.”

–         Won’t comment on opinion polls, “but I see the big picture, and this government continues to lead with a double-digit percentage point difference.”

–         Ability to reshuffle Cabinet is the prime minister’s privilege