schema:articleBody
| - A Greek prosecutor has launched an investigation into whether criminal charges should be pressed against the management of two private clinics in Athens, after a number of patients and staff tested positive for COVID-19. After days of significantly low new confirmed cases, Greece reported a spike on Thursday with 55 new cases of the coronavirus, 28 of them from one of the clinics, bringing the toll to 2,463. Health authorities are still taking samples at the clinics and fear many more cases will be confirmed. "This virus is very easily transmitted, especially in health facilities," said health ministry spokesman Sotiris Tsiodras. "I'm sorry to say that careless behaviour leads to new outbreaks. If we continue like this, we will have no rest." Deputy minister for civil protection Nikos Hardalias said there is evidence of high exposure to coronavirus in the clinics. Checks will be made on whether all the prescribed safety measures were followed. "We will look at those responsible at a disciplinary and criminal level," he said. The government announced on Thursday an extension to lockdown measures by a week to May 4, mainly to avoid big gatherings on the May 1 long weekend. The country has managed to keep fatalities at a low level, compared to other European countries, despite a decade of cuts in its public health system during the post-2010 debt crisis. Greece registered its first virus death on March 12 and by April 24 had recorded 125 fatalities. Supermarkets, banks and food delivery restaurants are among the few businesses still operating, and Greeks must inform authorities when leaving their homes for necessities, or risk fines. str-chv/bsp/txw
|