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“We must reactivate our own national vaccine which is nothing else but our “Filotimo” pride, and all together to follow the measures indicated by the experts and I am sure that if we do, and we will do it because we did it in the first phase of the pandemic, we will emerge victorious from this difficult battle as well “, stressed the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the beginning of the teleconference for Covid-19.
* “We are at a critical juncture in the battle that we have all been waging together since February, state and society, against the coronavirus pandemic. “We are seeing a significant increase in positive cases in recent days, which, however, are fundamentally different from the first wave of the pandemic, and this is of course something that worries us,” he said.
* “We must say that the increase in cases is mainly due to the relaxation of compliance measures within our country in July. And in that I believe we all have a responsibility for it. “Only 10% of the cases are imported, most of the cases at the moment are domestic”, said the Prime Minister.
* “We had stated in a very clear way in the announcements made at the end of April by me and the members of the Government and by all those in charge and by Nikos and Sotiris that the plan for the next day is not a plan to leave the sanitary and the financial crisis, nor is it a simple plan to return to some normalcy. Normality as we knew it until February and until the scientific community discovers the coveted vaccine, but also the necessary treatment protocols, does not exist. That is why no complacency is justified “, he underlined.
* “At this stage we are not yet aware of the duration of the pandemic. We know that science is making very fast progress, but we still do not know for how long, for how many months we will be obliged to live with the virus “, said Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
* “We had stated from the beginning that our plan is constantly updated based on the real data. Every measure of restarting the economy we had said then, that it will be measured, as it was done. It will be evaluated, as it is constantly done, and we will constantly decide whether we should accelerate somewhere or slow down somewhere else. And it’s something we do. We do it every day. We have imposed only the last month, always following the advice of experts, at least 15 targeted new restrictive measures. These are measures that respond to the findings of the Observatory and the Inter-Ministerial Intervention Mechanism that we have created. And what some often maliciously call a lack of planning or government backlash, is precisely this ever-changing condition to which every Government is called upon to adapt, I emphasize every Government, in the face of a pandemic that poses unprecedented public policy problems for which there are no ready “Answers or tried and tested solutions,” said the Prime Minister.
* “In this great crisis, health and the economy are not two concepts that oppose each other. We are not either with health or with the economy. To have economic growth we must have health. In order to have an adequate health system and a social protection index, we must have an economy that provides income that works for the benefit of the citizen and a state that fulfills its role. That is why I will say it again. “Faithful observance of the rules becomes even more imperative from now on”, he underlined.
* “We all wear masks indoors but also in open spaces where it is not possible to observe the necessary distances. The mask must now become our permanent companion, such as our keys, our glasses, and our cell phone. We avoid mass gatherings and entertainment in places of intense masses. “And of course we reject the conspiracy theories that call for disorder in the measures proposed not by the state but by the expert scientists in order to finally protect the public health of all”, the Prime Minister stressed.
During the meeting, the epidemiological data were evaluated and the need to tighten the controls was pointed out. Where cases have occurred, it has been reported that systematic tracking is taking place and an effort is being made to find the source. Statistics from the arrivals were also presented, which confirm that the biggest problem is located not in the imported incidents but in the domestic transmission. The biggest problem is located in Thessaloniki and in Northern Greece in general and in these areas special attention will be paid.
At the beginning of his speech, Kyriakos Mitsotakis referred to the unprecedented tragedy in Lebanon. “Let me make a brief introductory statement starting with my heartfelt condolences and thoughts to the afflicted people of Lebanon and especially Beirut after this tragic explosion we all saw yesterday. In consultation with Nikos Hardalias, but also with the Head of GEETHA, the first C130 with men and women of EMAK is already taking off immediately as the first needs, as requested by the Lebanese, concern human resources in a search and rescue operation. “And of course we are ready to assist with additional medical equipment as I imagine that as the hours and days go by we will realize the magnitude of this unprecedented tragedy that struck Lebanon,” he said.
The teleconference was attended by the Minister of Health Vassilis Kikilias, the Minister of State George Gerapetritis, the Deputy Minister of Health Vassilis Kontozamanis, the Deputy Minister of Mental Health Zoe Rapti, the Deputy Minister of Politics Mr. for the Coordination of the Government Project Akis Skertsos, the Deputy Minister under the Prime Minister and Government Spokesman Stelios Petsas, the General Secretary of the Prime Minister Grigoris Dimitriadis, the General Secretary of Public Health Panagiotis Grateikos O. Ioannis Kotsiopoulos, the Representative of the Ministry of Health for Covid-19, Professor Sotiris Tsiodras, the Director of the Office of the Prime Minister in Parliament Michalis Bekiris, the President of EODY Panagiotis Arkoumaneas and the Professor of Science D.
The following is the full text of the introductory statement by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis:
“Good morning. Let me make a brief introductory statement starting with my heartfelt condolences and thoughts to the afflicted people of Lebanon and especially Beirut after this tragic explosion we all saw yesterday.
In consultation with Nikos Hardalias, but also with the Head of GEETHA, the first C130 with men and women of EMAK is already taking off immediately as the first needs, as requested by the Lebanese, concern human resources in a search and rescue operation. And of course we are ready to assist with additional medical equipment as I imagine that as the hours and days go by we will realize the magnitude of this unprecedented tragedy that struck Lebanon.
Now, on the issues that concern us, I think it is quite clear that we are at a critical juncture in the battle that we have all been waging together since February, state and society, against the coronavirus pandemic. And almost three months after the gradual restart of the economy, which I recall began in early May, we are seeing in recent days a significant increase in positive cases, which, however, differs substantially from the first wave of the pandemic, and this of course is something that both worries and worries us.
We had stated very clearly in the announcements made at the end of April by me and the members of the Government and by all those in charge and by Nikos and Sotiris that the plan for the next day is not a plan for the exit from the sanitary and financial crisis, nor is it a simple plan to return to some normalcy.
Normality as we knew it until February and until the scientific community discovers the coveted vaccine, but also the necessary treatment protocols, does not exist. That is why no complacency is justified.
We had named our plan “Security Bridge”. It was a plan to move from “Staying Home” to “Staying Safe”. In a new daily life of high risk, however, that imposes new rules of work, cohabitation, traffic, entertainment. But also new tools for state monitoring of both the health data and the economic impact of the pandemic. A plan that we would all like to last very little, because it imposes measures that under normal circumstances are unpleasant for all of us.
But the reality is that at this stage we are not yet aware of the duration of the pandemic. We know that science is advancing very fast, but we do not yet know for how long, for how many months we will have to live with the virus.
We had stated from the beginning that our plan is constantly being updated based on the real data. Every measure of restarting the economy we had said then, that it will be measured, as it was done. It will be evaluated, as it is constantly done, and we will constantly decide whether we should accelerate somewhere or slow down somewhere else. And it’s something we do. We do it every day.
It is worth reminding that reopening our economy, we have imposed only in the last month, always following the advice of experts, at least 15 targeted new restrictive measures. These are measures that respond to the findings of the Observatory and the Inter-Ministerial Intervention Mechanism that we have created.
And what some often maliciously call a lack of planning or government backlash, is precisely this ever-changing condition to which every Government has to adapt, I emphasize every Government, in the face of a pandemic that poses unprecedented public policy problems for which there are no ready-made answers or tried and tested solutions.
I think it was clear to all of us that the lockdown could not, should not continue. Because yes, thanks to this we managed and saved lives and we should all be, the whole Greek society very proud of what we have achieved, but at the same time closed schools, closed businesses, travel restrictions cause not only huge financial impasses, but also intense social problems. They intensify social inequalities, create psychological problems, problems of domestic violence.
It was also clear that the necessary restart of economic and social life as we have implemented it in phases since May, would and does involve the risk of a new increase in cases. We knew this was going to happen. And we all live in a world of very high risk and as I said we have to learn to live with the virus until the final cure is found
This in no way means that we will be locked in our shell or we will bury our head like an ostrich in the sand. Instead we need to be educated, to adapt as responsible citizens to the new data created by this deadly virus.
And I understand that the increase in cases causes reasonable anxiety to everyone. And so it must be. Because we have never said as a Government that the virus is gone and that we can return to our normal lives as if nothing were happening.
We always said it, I said it in every public speech. The virus is here, it is circulating among us and of course to refute a widespread perception the increase in cases is not so much due to the opening of borders, which I want to say are exemplary monitored with advanced scientific algorithm tools that very few countries have adopted so far. It should be noted that the increase in cases is mainly due to the relaxation of compliance measures within our country in July. And in that I believe we all have a responsibility for it. Only 10% of cases are imported, most cases are currently domestic.
And it is proved by the data that we have at our disposal, elements of the civil protection, of EODY, by the traces that we make that today social events such as weddings, baptisms, celebrations, places of entertainment where people are crowded, bars, nightclubs, but also specific productive activities that must comply with strict health measures such as the food industry are now serious outbreaks of the virus.
That is why we are taking new, more stringent targeted measures and carrying out many increased controls in these areas to protect public health.
However, today the number of cases is not the only critical indicator that should concern us. Because August is not March. And those who make this comparison, I think, underestimate the intelligence of the people. They often oppose not us in the Government, but the country itself. In March we had a national health system with very few ICU beds, without a sufficient number of respirators and materials, with little ability to perform diagnostic tests, with a population, but also a medical community that had not yet been trained in dealing with the virus.
And today everything is completely different in terms of the capabilities of the national health system to respond to a potentially increased number of cases and in terms of the ability of the scientific community to deal more effectively, even with the means available for coronavirus cases, but of course with a more mature and informed society. But also with a different way of spreading the virus. Sotiris said it yesterday in his briefing. We now have a spread of the virus at younger ages, often with more asymptomatic carriers. Asymptomatic carriers which, however, are no less contagious. And the critical indicators that we are monitoring, which are mainly the burden of Covid beds, ICU beds, hospitals, remain at a very, very low percentage of the existing capacity.
This is the good news. But for this we must move at a high speed so as not to see increased pressure on the health system.
Of course, even today we have the ability to perform many more tests and perform them much more targeted. That is why more positive cases may be revealed. But all this can in no way be a reason for complacency. I think we have all understood that in this great crisis health and the economy are not two concepts that oppose each other. We are not either with health or with the economy.
To have economic growth we must have health. In order to have an adequate health system and a social protection index, we must have an economy that provides income that works for the benefit of the citizen and a state that fulfills its role.
That is why I will say it again. Faithful observance of the rules becomes even more imperative from now on, and at this critical juncture so that we do not see in August a new significant increase in cases which will cause widespread dispersal in the community. In order not to be led to possible new restrictive measures that will harm the economy and society.
The coming days will be days of relaxation for many of our fellow citizens and for that and we must show an increased sense of vigilance, a sense of responsibility, protection of the elderly and vulnerable populations.
We all wear masks indoors, but also in open spaces where it is not possible to observe the necessary distances. The mask must now become our permanent companion, such as our keys, our glasses, and our cell phone.
We avoid mass gatherings and entertainment in places of intense colour.
And of course we reject the conspiracy theories that call for disorder in the measures proposed, not by the state, but by the expert scientists in order to ultimately protect the public health of all.
And there is no room at this juncture either for petty comments, or certainly for unscientific rumours, sprinkled with lies, obscure views that there is no problem right away, that the mask is not needed. These are all the same dangerous diseases. They poison society and sow danger for it and will be dealt with according to the state and criminally where needed.
Honesty, transparency, trust in science are necessary allies in managing this difficult situation to move to the next stage with as few losses as possible. And we are fighting this battle and we will continue to fight it with allies science and technology.
The situation we are still living in is unprecedented. Never before has the individual behaviour of each of us affected the collective course of the country to such an extent.
The responsibility we displayed as a society in the mandatory, horizontal deprivation of our basic freedoms in order to defend the highest good of health and human life was not self-evident. But we managed to stop the first wave of the pandemic. And this new trust that is built every day between the citizens and the state, was not self-evident either. It is a trust that is earned every day. And this new collective of responsibility is a sign of maturity; I dare say emotional and political adulthood of society itself and ultimately social progress. It is an important acquis that we are not allowed to dismiss; it is the only one that can take us to a better and safer future.
In other words, and I must close with this, we must reactivate our national vaccine, which is nothing more than our ambition. And all together to follow the measures indicated by the experts and I am sure that if we do it, and we will do it, because we did it in the first phase of the pandemic, we will emerge victorious from this difficult battle. ”
Video in Greek
source:- Primeminister.gr
