The Minister of Health, Thanos Plevris, predicted the gradual lifting of the restrictive measures from mid-March and a “normal” Easter, speaking to Capital.gr.
The minister explained that Omicron gives us an optimism that this is a contagious but less morbid mutation. “We see that slowly the vaccination coverage has reached a very high level, compared to the level of September, according to experts, at least for the next six months we will constantly come close to normal. Already, in March, most of the existing measures will be lifted and we will go to a “normal” Easter and summer close to normal, at least for the vaccinated. “But there should be no complacency because we do not know how the pandemic can return in the fall.”
On the issue of unvaccinated healthcare, Mr. Plevris noted: “At the moment, at least in the near future, two things can be done. One thing is what I have suggested, I have not hidden, I have suggested it, it is my suggestion and I believe that it will be accepted, it has to do with the fact that in order to serve in the National Health System it must be standard qualification is vaccination. And this, forgive me, is a matter outside the pandemic. It is an issue related to science and how much you want the staff serving in the National Health System to respect the science for which they are in the specific positions. So, if vaccination is set as a standard qualification, obviously on March 31, when their suspension expires, they will now be asked to choose whether to remain in the National Health System or if they remain unvaccinated will not work in the National Health System. The second position is that for how long the pandemic lasts, and when we say how long the pandemic lasts when we are currently renewing auxiliary staff contracts until the end of the year, when we are taking antiviral drugs until the end of the year, when we are getting vaccines to cover population, at least until the end of the year, it is clear that at this time, that is, if we do not put it as a formal qualification and say that it will simply be suspended for as long as the pandemic lasts, they will not be able to return. So, they are not going to return on April 1st. They will either be put out of the health system or remain suspended until it is said that there is no coronavirus pandemic. “It’s logical, however, to be forced to be blackmailed by people who have a choice and choose not to pursue science, forgive me, we will not do it.”
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