Deaths from covid-19 are increasing, while all other indicators are decreasingaccording to the epidemiological report of EODY for the week of October 23-29 on viral infections of the respiratory system (SARS-CoV-2, influenza viruses and respiratory syncytial virus – RSV)

SARS-CoV2 virus – COVID-19 infection: The positivity in all tested samples showed a decrease compared to the previous week. The number of admissions (n=903) showed a 9% decrease compared to the average weekly number of admissions in the previous 4 weeks and was lower than the number of admissions in the corresponding week in 2022. The number of new intubations (n=13) showed a decrease from the average weekly number of new intubations during the previous 4 weeks (n=22) and was lower than the number of intubations in the corresponding week in 2022. The number of patients with COVID-19 infection hospitalized with intubation is 49. Recorded 63 deaths with a median age of 83 years (range 61-99 years). The number of deaths showed an increase over the average weekly number of deaths in the previous 4 weeks (n=54) and was lower than the number of deaths in the corresponding week in 2022.

In the week of October 23-29 the most frequent BA.2 sub-variant was XBB.1.5 (44%), followed by EG.5 (23%) and XBB.1.16 (20%).

A total of 96 positive samples of the BA.2.86 sub-variant have been recorded in Greece, with sampling dates from 05 September to 16 October.

Viral load surveillance in municipal wastewater showed an increase in SARSCoV-2 virus circulation in 3 of the 10 areas tested.

Influenza virus: Influenza positivity in the community remains below 10% (sentinel). One new serious case with hospitalization in ICU was recorded, as well as one new death from laboratory-confirmed influenza. In the last three weeks, a total of 3 people with laboratory-confirmed influenza have been hospitalized in ICU and 2 deaths from laboratory-confirmed influenza have been recorded. In the two influenza reference centers, 10 samples positive for influenza viruses (sentinel samples and hospital samples) have been recorded, namely 9 (90%) were type A and one (10%) was type B. The type A strains all belonged to subtype A (H1)pdm09.

Influenza syndromes (regardless of pathogen): The number of influenza cases per 1,000 visits is low.

Respiratory syncytial virus – RSV: No positive samples were found in the community