New infections with the Covid-19 virus rose from July 24 to July 30 compared to the previous week, the National Public Health Organization (EODY) weekly report released on Thursday said.
The Federation of Hospital Doctors is calling for the unconditional return of the mandatory use of masks in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Weekly Coronavirus Report
Coronavirus hospitalizations increased last week (321) and saw an overall increase of 41% compared to the average of hospitalizations over the past four weeks.
The number of new intubations (9) in the week of July 24-30 was slightly lower than the previous week and decreased by 125% compared to the average number of new intubations over the past four weeks. There are currently 16 intubated Covid patients in hospitals in Greece.
During the week, 24 people infected with the Covid-19 virus died. The mean age of the deceased was 87.5 years (age range: 67-97 years).
Weekly viral load sampling in municipal waste in Greece showed an increase in the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 in 8 out of 10 regions tested.
Flu
In the case of influenza, there were no new cases of illness requiring hospitalization in intensive care units (ICUs) and no new deaths during the week of July 24-30.
Since the beginning of the influenza season, 68 people with influenza have been hospitalized in intensive care units, 26 people have died.
Doctors demand the return of masks to hospitals
Hospital doctors have responded to a circular issued by the Ministry of Health on July 24, abolishing the measure of the mandatory wearing of a mask by hospital staff, patients, visitors or accompanying persons.
In a statement released by the Federation of Hospital Physicians Associations (OEGNE), hospital physicians stressed the need to maintain the obligation to wear masks by medical staff, patients and their companions in healthcare facilities, noting that the nosocomial spread of COVID-19 is still a big problem.
While the epidemic’s hard numbers have dropped significantly, COVID-19 continues to plague Greece’s health care system, with more than 300 virus-infected patients admitted to the country’s hospitals last week.
In a statement, the Federation called “incorrect and extremely dangerous” the recent abolition of the obligation to use a respiratory mask in medical facilities, with the exception of medical personnel in contact with high-risk patients (cancer, immunosuppressed, transplanted, hospitalized in intensive care units) and patients in groups increased risk.
The federation noted that the use of high-protection masks by patients, caregivers and medical personnel “should continue everywhere, along with other precautions.”
The statement also notes that “it is completely unethical to expose every patient to the risk of nosocomial transmission of infection, even if he does not have a known individual history of a disease predisposing to immunosuppression. (infection committees)”.
It should be noted that, according to the National Health Organization, in the week of July 17-23, the number of hospitalizations for COVID-19 increased by 50% compared to the average weekly number of new hospitalizations in the period of June 19-July 16 (306 vs. 204) . There are 15 deaths from COVID-19 compared to 17 deaths per week in the previous period.
Viral load monitoring in urban wastewater showed an increase in the circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in four of the ten areas tested (Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion and Ioannina).
PS If you thought that everything was over, you are mistaken – everything is just beginning…
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