Athena Lin: "We have a smoldering fire"

Professor of epidemiology at the Faculty of Medicine ΕΚΠΑ Athena Linou fears an outbreak of coronavirus if appropriate measures are not taken in schools – open windows, keeping distance and masks:

“If we continue with today’s tactics, I fear we will have a virus outbreak very soon.”

Ms. Linu also noted in an interview CNN in Greecethat she is worried about contacts between young children and elderly people who do not pay attention to safety precautions.

The professor recalls that against the backdrop of an imaginary recession, 16 deaths per day are recorded in the country, which means almost 500 deaths per month and almost 6,000 deaths per year. These figures are not far from those in the United States, where 400 people die from coronavirus every day – in terms of population, they are the same.

This means there is a smoldering fire in Greece, Linou says, and we didn’t take care to put it out properly, causing it to flare up again. Therefore, with regard to schools, the professor points out that teachers should encourage children to wear masks and keep their distance, as well as keep windows and doors open: “It is better to close schools for two days than to close doors and windows.”

Last Tuesday, September 20, ΕΟΔΥ announced a 7% increase in the virus due to the reopening of schools in children aged 6 to 12 and 13 to 18, which is associated with the reopening of schools. In this regard, ΕΟΔΥ addresses the people of Greece:

“In order to limit the spread of coronavirus, children, adolescents and adults are advised to take preventive measures such as early isolation, diagnostic tests and early diagnosis, avoidance of contact with persons belonging to susceptible groups, and it is strongly recommended to wear a mask for those who have symptoms. In general, the use of masks indoors is encouraged.”

Meanwhile, the EMA, the European Medicines Agency, stressed this week that although the number of cases of coronavirus in Europe has decreased, the pandemic is not over yet, and European countries should prepare for the possibility of a new autumn wave. Marco Cavalleri, head of the health threats agency EMA noted:

“The data shows that there has been a decline in the total number of (SARS-CoV-2) cases and deaths from COVID-19 in Europe in recent weeks. The Omicron BA.5 sub-variant is still the dominant one in Europe, but we must keep other variants in mind. For example BA.4.6 has already been found in Europe. In addition, BA.2.75 (Centaur) is a sub-option of concern.”

Referring to the seasonal flu that appeared earlier this year, Professor Linu points out that it is more dangerous for very young children who have not been exposed to the virus at all over the past two years due to the COVID pandemic. She encourages parents to vaccinate young children against the seasonal flu virus. Pediatricians recommend vaccinations from 6 months and older.

The scientific world is seriously concerned this year about the emergence of an explosive cocktail of seasonal flu and coronavirus.

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