The Greek national healthcare system has come under increasing strain following a spike in patients afflicted with COVID-19-related ailments as hospitals released alarming figures of their ICU bed availability.
New figures show that more than 63% of all ICU beds in the country are full.
Out of 436 intensive care beds that have been set aside for coronavirus-related cases, 278 are filled, leaving only 158 open.
In Athens, 66.4% of ICU beds are occupied, while in Thessaloniki more than 75% of the units are occupied; out of the city’s 118 COVID ICU beds, 89 are full, leaving 29 open.
The news comes as Greece enters its second full lockdown since the start of the pandemic in an effort to stem the sudden increase of sick people from the pandemic’s second wave — which is plaguing Europe.
The lockdown was ordered after experts rang alarm bells over rising hospitalizations.
Greek citizens can only leave their homes after sending a text message to a government agency and citing a pre-approved reason to leave, including to visit a pharmacy or buy groceries.
Epidemiologist and head of the government’s COVID-19 committee, professor Sotiris Tsiodras, urged the government to take immediate action after the number of cases countrywide soared — burdening the already overwhelmed public health system.
“Never in the country’s contemporary history have there been so many ICU (intensive care unit) patients from a virus that causes pneumonia,” Tsiodras said during the announcement with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis last week.
In an attempt to explain the government’s decision to impose a second lockdown, Tsiodras added that the coronavirus was behind more than 170 hospital admissions per day, causing unbearable pressure on public health facilities.
“There are now more people admitted to hospitals than are being discharged,” he said.
Over the past three days, Greece also recorded its highest daily death rates over three consecutive days. From Saturday to Monday, 34, 35 and 41 deaths were announced, respectively, for a total of 110 victims from coronavirus-related ailments.
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