Greece faces renewed lockdown as pressure on hospitals rises
Published Mon Nov 23 2020 19:44:29 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Greece's health minister says the government is set to extend its lockdown measures beyond the end of November given the spread of COVID-19 and the pressure on hospitals. Vassilis Kikilias said it's “self-evident” the lockdown can't be lifted at the end of the month. The country of about 11 million people now has more than 92,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 1,714 deaths — more than 1,000 of which were over the past month — and intensive care unit beds are rapidly filling up. On Monday, the military was setting up a field hospital with more than 50 beds in the northern city of Thessaloniki.
by By COSTAS KANTOURIS
THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Greece's health minister says the government is set to extend its lockdown measures beyond the end of November given the spread of COVID-19 and the pressure on hospitals. Vassilis Kikilias said it's “self-evident” the lockdown can't be lifted at the end of the month. The country of about 11 million people now has more than 92,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 1,714 deaths — more than 1,000 of which were over the past month — and intensive care unit beds are rapidly filling up. On Monday, the military was setting up a field hospital with more than 50 beds in the northern city of Thessaloniki.
An elderly woman wearing a face mask against the spread of coronavirus, speaks with another woman, in Athens, Monday, Nov. 23, 2020. Greece has seen a major resurgence of the virus after the summer, leading to dozens of deaths each day and thousands of new infections. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)Medical staff conducts a rapid COVID test on an elderly woman in Athens, Monday, Nov. 23, 2020. Greece has seen a major resurgence of the virus after the summer, leading to dozens of deaths each day and thousands of new infections. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)Customers wearing face masks against the spread of coronavirus, wait to buy potatoes at an open-air fruit and vegetable market in Athens, Monday, Nov. 23, 2020. Greece has seen a major resurgence of the virus after the summer, leading to dozens of deaths each day and thousands of new infections. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)Medical staff adjusts the negative rapid COVID tests in Athens, Monday, Nov. 23, 2020. Greece has seen a major resurgence of the virus after the summer, leading to dozens of deaths each day and thousands of new infections. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)Two women wearing face masks against the spread of coronavirus, pull their trolley baskets at an open-air fruit and vegetable market in Athens, Monday, Nov. 23, 2020. Greece has seen a major resurgence of the virus after the summer, leading to dozens of deaths each day and thousands of new infections. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)A vendor wearing a face mask against the spread of coronavirus, throws and catches an egg in the air at an open-air fruit and vegetable market in Athens, Monday, Nov. 23, 2020. Greece has seen a major resurgence of the virus after the summer, leading to dozens of deaths each day and thousands of new infections. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
