Government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou spoke on a Mega TV show about the government’s balancing strategy against the pandemic and its desire to keep the market open at Christmas, about the Church, the tests and the progress of vaccinations.
“Our government is one of the first in Europe to take the most courageous, unpleasant and radical measures. To remind the obligation to 60 and over. Let me remind you that we were the first to say that in order for the certificate of illness to be valid, for those who have been ill and are 60 and over, they must make the third installment. To remind you of the unpleasant decisions of the first period. “Let me remind you of a number of other initiatives, such as the” green “certificate, in which the prime minister played a leading role”, said Mr. Oikonomou.
He pointed out that because people “know how important it is to keep the economy, education, society open, they are worried seeing the coronavirus that persists and the pressure on the Health System.” He added: “We have made wise decisions at various stages. We are pursuing a balancing strategy with the economy open and at the same time limiting the spread of the coronavirus as much as we can, obviously by increasing vaccination coverage and supporting the NSS. Very recently the Prime Minister made the brave decision to mandatory extension of the vaccination coverage to our fellow citizens who are from 60 and over “.
He referred to the Omicron mutation, “which forces all governments across Europe to adjust their strategy. Strategy is as dynamic as the pandemic. We had exhausted all the persuasion and facilitation tools we had in our hands to increase vaccination coverage. We had noticed that this particular group, 60 and over, had the lowest response. From the day the obligation was announced until today, we have tens of thousands of our fellow citizens aged 60 and over – they have exceeded 65,000 – who rushed to make an appointment for the first installment and this is very positive. That is, more than 10% of people who remained unprotected for 11 months, hurried to book their appointment.
The fine is not an end in itself
The government spokesman then stressed that the aim is “not to have to impose a single fine. The fine is not an end in itself. It is important to put more pressure on those who are more vulnerable to take advantage of this gift of science, to be vaccinated, to shield themselves against serious illness and, at the same time, to protect the Health System that is under a lot of pressure.
It has not been assessed that an extension of the obligation is needed now – here we are. Mandatory is the last tool in one’s hands to increase vaccination coverage.
The State is doing everything possible for both the first installment and the third installment, which is now possible after three months. We increase the capacity of the system, we continue with the same conditions.
There is a very high vaccination rate in the Security Forces, as it exceeds 80-85%. There is no obligation in this category, because it was judged that the response to vaccination was such that this measure should not be imposed. The police officer who performs the control is either vaccinated or is obliged to come to work with the tests required by law “.
We want the market to be open
“With the protection measures we have, we want the market to be open. Christmas is a very important time, both religiously and financially and socially for the citizens. We do not want the country to close. It is not the lockdown in our design. We have a framework of safeguards. We have strong recommendations. We have legislated basic measures.
There are specific measures and framework, with which the nightclubs operate with the vaccinated, with the staff that must meet specific conditions, to be there. “We are staying within the framework of operation, as it has been decided and is valid now”, the government spokesman underlined.
He made a special reference to the Church, noting: “There are isolated incidents in the Church that are against vaccinations. There is, however, the archbishop, there is the Permanent Holy Synod, there is the vast majority of Metropolitans. I have heard with my own ears the Metropolitan of Fthiotida, more than ten or fifteen times -as many times I have the opportunity to hear him- argue in favor of vaccination.
There are outbreaks, unfortunately, which mislead the world, which also go against the decisions of the Holy Synod and the archbishop. On the other hand, however, the Church has stood by the State in an organized way, in terms of vaccination. There is also a collaboration, which, so far, has attributed its results, without undue tension, to the religious services in the temples, based on the institutional framework that exists from the State, for the mandatory entrance with tests, but also the recommendations of the Holy Synod.
It is time now, here we are, for people to realize how important it is to get the vaccine, how important it is to follow the measures, in view of the festive season of Christmas. Take a look at what is done in the intensive care unit, in what is being done in the hospitals. The vast majority of those who are seriously ill are in the unvaccinated people in the age group of 60 and over “.
Referring to the tests, Mr. Oikonomou said that the process announced by the Prime Minister has begun, so that each of us, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, can obtain a self test free of charge from pharmacies, to check his condition, so that and himself in case he falls ill to take the necessary measures, but also not to inadvertently transmit the coronavirus to the community. “It’s good for everyone, vaccinated or not, to control our condition. We have the most powerful and extensive diagnostic system in the country from all over Europe. “In schools, a student can be checked up to seven days a week, in case someone close to him gets sick”, he added.
We do not have extensive episodes – The institutional framework plays a role
In addition to the coronavirus, regarding the marches, the government spokesman underlined that “the tightening of the framework, but also the proper and organized work of the Greek Police, resulted in us not having extensive incidents. In Athens they were limited to a very specific point around Exarcheion Square. In Thessaloniki, unfortunately, we had a little more, but they do not resemble the images we had before the years of quarantine. Obviously, the institutional framework also plays a role. “Now, anyone who carries a Molotov cocktail and is on a march, in a demonstration, commits a crime.”
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