Coronavirus – What measures are being considered under the pressure of an outbreak?

The rapid increase in cases and deaths from coronavirus, has already stretched the limits and the National Health System is called upon  to cope for the third time with the increased needs of hospitalization, and with its staff already exhausted from the fight against the pandemic in the last 1.5 years.

The government has made it clear in every tone that its priority and choice is not to resort to a new lockdown and to protect the functioning of the economy against the fourth wave that is enveloping the country, with experts however expressing concern about its epidemiological picture. country and with many talking about an upsurge in December.

In this context, the government seems to be considering an alternative plan to deal with the difficult situation, which includes two parts. One has to do with strengthening the Health System and the second with taking additional restrictive measures, especially in the “red” areas.

The following measures are being considered in relation to the health system:

Increase Covid beds, with a corresponding limitation of regular surgeries

Collaboration with private clinics to absorb non Covid cases

Incentives for doctors to join the NHS, and if this is not successful, the government will commandeer them.

At the same time, it is not ruled out that further restrictive measures may be applied, especially in red areas. In addition to complying with the new measures that came into force on Saturday, it is possible and depending on the course of the pandemic, that new restrictions will be applied.

The tightening of measures is likely to include

Elimination of standing in entertainment venues
Music ban
Limiting opening hours in restaurants and bars
The implementation of the alternative plan will depend on the epidemiological picture of the coming week, both in terms of the course of cases and harsh indicators, as well as the pressure on the NHS. At the same time, the health workers, mainly in hospitals in Northern Greece, talk about on-call hours that are reminiscent of or even more difficult than the November on-call days, while expressing distress over shortages.