Gradual removal of domestic travel restrictions continues; Greece registers 2,840 coronavirus cases, no deaths in last 24 hrs

Furthermore, the virus' dispersal dropped by 80 pct, "as Greeks showed tremendous compliance during the curfews and lockdowns," he added.

Primary schools

Tsiodras devoted a great part of his briefing to assuaging the fears of parents of young children, who think that their children might be endangered if they return to primary schools on June 1 (a decision is expected to be announced on May 25). He said that overall, weighing the pros and cons, it appears that children would benefit more from being in school than staying at home.
Although there are no definite guarantees that younger children will not be infected with coronavirus in school, they are less likely to do so and even less likely to have severe symptoms, the infectious diseases specialist said. In addition, returning to school improves their mental and emotional state, quells their feelings of anxiety and isolation from being away their friends and prevents internet addiction, he stressed. 
Tsiodras also raised the issue of poverty, and of children who came from poorer families without access to a computer, and whose parents could not afford to stay home to take care of them. "There is a hidden inequality in learning and education for children that belong to the poorest families, which is exacerbated at periods when schools are not in operation," he said. He also said that if a child stays at home, then a parent needs to know how to handle it. "If it's in isolation at home, it is obviously safer than (...) playing in the neighborhood and at city squares, exposing itself to a less safe environment." Whatever specialists say, the final decision lies with the parents, who know their own child the best, he said.

Tuesday's numbers

He also announced another 4 new coronavirus cases but no deaths in Greece in the last 24 hours, bringing the total of infections since the start of the outbreak in the country to 2,840. 
So far, of the total infections, 616 are traced to travel abroad and 1,475 to known cases in Greece.
Twenty-two hospitalized Greeks are intubated. Their average age is 73 years old and 9 of them are women. The overwhelming majority (95.5 pct) have an underlying illness or are over 70 years of age. Another 95 have been discharged from ICUs since the start of the outbreak.
Fatalities since the beginning of the outbreak stand at 165, with 47 of them being women. The average age of the deceased was 75 years and 94 pct had some underlying illness and/or were 70 years of age or more.
A total of 136,001 diagnostic tests for Covid-19 have so far been carried out in Greece.

Airport checks

The gradual rollback of strict measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic is unfolding well, with few issues so far, Civil Protection Deputy Minister for Crisis Management Nikos Hardalias said on Tuesday, during the thrice-weekly live briefing on developments in Greece.
He reminded the public that restaurants will open on May 25 (Monday), the same day travel to and from Greek islands will be allowed under conditions.
In addition, he said checks at the Athens International Airport (the where flights from abroad are currently obliged to land) were stringent both for merchandise going through customs and for arrivals in Greece. He noted that a total of 46,000 people had entered Greece as of the start of the outbreak in the country.
The quarantine rule on incoming flights remains until May 31, Hardalias reiterated, adding that as of the present and of the total 46,000 above, 3,389 people are still waiting out the 14-day quarantine after testing positive to the virus.
Between May 8 and 18, the minister noted, 45 flights arrived, bringing 3,332 people to Greece. There were only 10 infected people on these flights, while a Lufthansa flight that arrived on Monday had 196 passengers - most of them from overseas transit flights - none of whom tested positive.
"Our efforts have been recognized internationally," Hardalias said, thanks to the public's observance of the measures, and "Greece has become an example." He said this did not mean vigilance should be relaxed "for any reason."