Coronavirus variants that are more contagious have spread the disease so fast that some 70 percent of patients on ventilators in Greek public hospital Intensive Care Units (ICU’s) are now 35-50 after the pandemic had targeted the elderly and those with underlying or multiple conditions. Matina Pagoni, President of the Athens and Piraeus Hospital Doctors’ Association (EINAP) told SKAI TV that “it is tragic” to have to intubate younger people who do not have any underlying health problems. She said the new strains, especially from the United Kingdom where they spread after the government didn’t take the pandemic fight seriously enough showed an increased spread rate of 40 to 60 percent among the younger population. Until a third lockdown was tightened, there was widespread defiance of health measures with many people not wearing masks or staying a safe social distance and gathering in the public square and private parties, spiking the risk. The National Organization of Public Health (EODY) said as of March 28 there were 735 patients intubated in Greek hospitals, the largest number since the start of the lingering pandemic. There were so many that the doctors union complained the New Democracy government hasn’t done enough nor moved to use private hospitals, requiring them to set up jury-rigged ICUs outside of rooms in hospitals. Read more at thenationalherald.com RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Norbert Kaiser Let's block ads! (Why?)