G. Economou: We are opening schools like the whole of Europe

Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou spoke in a TV interview with Mega about the opening of schools and the conditions for a safe return to school, diagnostics, vaccinations and early election scenarios.

He pointed out that the schools are opened after all the data concerning the characteristics of the “O” mutation have been weighed, which although it has this very fast contagion, but does not cause many hospitalizations or creates serious problems, as can be seen from the data abroad and from the country “while emphasizing the importance of extensive diagnostic testing in order to detect any cases between students and teachers in a timely manner. “In this way children in a pandemic environment are more protected inside the school environment than outside it. Schools are also open for educational, social, psychological reasons. No one doubts that lifelong learning is what “More important and incomparably better than any other method. We are opening schools, as the rest of Europe is doing. There is no country in Europe that has not opened, either last week or tomorrow.”

He also explained that “50% + 1 is a limit that has been set based on health and education reasons. On the one hand because the class or department can not work when half the children are absent for any reason. And on the other hand because its transmissibility” The “is such that in any other smaller percentage in essence it would be like saying that the schools would not open. However, it is true that 50% + 1 worked all the time with mutations, which did not have these characteristics of fast transmission “.

The government spokesman stressed that “because the conditions are not exactly the same for children to go to school and to continue, we have a much stricter, regular and frequent testing for vaccinated and unvaccinated.” “In case of a case, not only the children who sat very close to the case will be examined daily, but the whole department,” he added.

“Until last night, 1,342,000 beneficiaries out of about 1,500,000 had obtained the self tests. A percentage of 90%. This means, if we calculate that we have 81,000 departments, that about one or two beneficiaries per department have not The self-administrations of the schools have been taken care of. And for this there is care with the directors of the schools. The appropriate instructions have been given by the Ministry of Education to the Directorates of Education all over Greece. “Now take the self test. This time, there was a huge response. It was the biggest response so far in all the phases that have been offered free self test.”

Extensive diagnostic tests

As Mr. Economou stressed, “in Greece we have the most tests and we have done the most free tests from all European countries.”

“The State has allocated over 320 million euros in order to provide the option to the Greek population to take tests, whether it concerns self tests, or PCR and molecular in public structures, in EODY and in the structures of the National Health System.

In recent days, due to “O”, there is an increased demand for PCR. This is a reality that no one disputes. There were also queues of inconvenience, especially in days when the system was pushed by the increased demand much more. None of us would want these queues to exist. All the previous period and from now on, in more than 150, 200 points all over the country, EODY -without the structures of the National Health System- continues to provide the possibility for free PCR or any other test.

There is no country in the world that has done more in terms of tests than the Greek State. This is not in dispute. The data show that we are first in testing. There are countries that may prescribe a PCR. In Greece, anyone can do without a prescription directly for free, maybe more than one “.

Increasing vaccination coverage is an important priority

Regarding the progress of vaccinations, the government spokesman stressed: “Increasing vaccination coverage is always a very important priority. Mandatory has helped a lot, despite the political costs it may have. About 200 thousand people aged 60 and over who do not They used this weapon of science, they did it in the past. The booster dose also helps a lot. “And this played a catalytic role, so that we are shielded against the serious disease in” O “. In this direction we will continue”.

He clarified that “we have seven months in terms of the third dose to be considered to have all the advantages of vaccinated”. “If someone does not take the third dose and the seven-month period has passed, they will not have the privileges of those who have been vaccinated in terms of access to a number of places. It is an additional incentive for other fellow citizens to rush to take the third dose. “As far as vaccination coverage is concerned, monitoring and weighing the data and the dynamics of the pandemic, but at the same time the percentage of vaccination coverage, whatever we need to do, we will do it.”

“Elections will be held at the end of four years”

Rejecting the scenarios of early elections, Mr. Economou stressed that “the elections will take place at the end of four years, as the Prime Minister has repeatedly said. We are unfolding a plan that day by day people understand that what we have in mind is to be to respond not only to the pandemic but also to the recurring crises.Another huge support package was announced on January for price increases in January. electricity and gas “.

Source: AMPE