“Applications for participation in the ‘Coverage’ program can be submitted by the owners of houses located in the administrative boundaries of the Municipality of Athens, after the relevant invitation of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family. The ‘Coverage’ program, with a total budget of 21.5 million euros, is implemented in 44 Municipalities of the country, it concerns properties which are available to beneficiaries aged 25 to 39 who receive the Minimum Guaranteed Income from OPECA and do not own their own residence. In particular, beneficiaries of the minimum guaranteed income, three-child and large-child families, people with a disability of over 67%, households under eviction from rental housing, single-parent families, families with one or two children, unemployed registered with DYPA, women are included in the program with additional points victims of domestic violence accommodated in hostels with or without children, households under eviction from rental housing, individuals or families receiving the minimum guaranteed income,” said government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, starting the briefing for political editors.

“Housing is one of the biggest issues facing citizens due to rising rent prices and the difficulty of owning a home. The government has made the issue an absolute priority and has already proceeded with a series of programs that help citizens such as ‘My House’, ‘Renovate-Rent’ and also the program to find housing for our homeless fellow citizens”, he stressed Mr. Marinakis added that with the “Coverage” program, citizens in 44 municipalities of the country, especially the most vulnerable, are facilitated in finding housing for the next three years.

Afterwards, Mr. Marinakis referred to the progress of the Patras-Pyrgos highway projects, which were informed by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Staikouras, and the Deputy Minister responsible for Infrastructure, Nikos Tachiaos. “The schedules that had been set determined that by the end of June the completion of the project would be at a rate of 50% and today we are at approximately 52%. Estimates are that at the end of the year we will be at a 75% completion rate. “Well, the project is progressing within schedules, so that in 2025, as we have committed to deliver to the citizens a modern and safe highway”, he emphasized.

He then moved on to another topic, pointing out that “the reaction of the state apparatus was immediate from the first moment of outbreaks of plague of small ruminants in Thessaly. So far there are two centers, in Meteora and Elassona. In both cases, a clinical examination has already been carried out on all the animals and units located in the protection zone. In Meteora it concerns about 3,500 animals, while in Elassona it concerns about 13,000 animals. As of yesterday, 632 samples have been sent for laboratory testing by the control services of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, while since the day of the outbreak of the disease, 9 cases have been confirmed in Meteora (all in a very small radius, there is no spread) and one in Elassona. The Region of Thessaly revoked all veterinarians’ licenses and everyone is in the field. The ministry also revoked the licenses of veterinarians both in the central service and in the supervised agencies (ELGO – DIMITRA, ELGA, OPEKEPE, EFET), which, as of yesterday, are moving to Larissa. The other Regions of the country, the Hellenic Army and the University of Thessaly are assisting in the effort with veterinarians.”

He also underlined that meetings are being held with the aim of better coordination of actions and the division of actions, as well as the proper supervision of livestock units, cheese factories, slaughterhouses, feed factories and feed sales points.

“As the Minister of Rural Development and Food Kostas Tsiaras pointed out, in a meeting held on Friday, there is no risk to public health, while he clarified that the disease concerns only goats and sheep and in no case is it transmitted to other species of animals. At the same time, both the managers of the veterinary services and the scientific staff of the Veterinary School of the University of Thessaly, it became clear that the consumption of milk and meat does not pose any risk to public health, as long as the rules laid down by the European Union are respected”. emphasized the government representative.

In detail during his introductory statement to the political editors’ briefing, the government representative stated:

“Applications for participation in the “COVERAGE” Program can be submitted by the owners of houses located in the administrative boundaries of the Municipality of Athens, after the relevant invitation of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family.

The “COVERAGE” Program, with a total budget of 21.5 million euros, is implemented in 44 Municipalities of the country, it concerns properties which are available to beneficiaries aged 25 to 39 who receive the Minimum Guaranteed Income from OPECA and do not own a home.

In particular, beneficiaries of the Minimum Guaranteed Income are included, with additional points, in the Program:

  • Three-child and large-child families,
  • people with a disability of more than 67%,
  • households under eviction from rental housing,
  • single parent families,
  • families with one or two children,
  • unemployed registered with DYPA,
  • female victims of domestic violence who are accommodated in hostels with or without their children,
  • individuals or families receiving the Guaranteed Minimum Income.

Through the program, the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family undertakes to cover the rent for three years and in addition the cost of moving and transferring DEKO accounts.

Housing is one of the biggest issues facing citizens, due to rising rents and the difficulty of owning a home.

The Government has made the issue an absolute priority and has already advanced a series of programs that help citizens, such as “My House”, “Renovate and Rent” and also the program to find housing for our homeless fellow citizens. With the “Coverage” program, citizens in 44 municipalities of the country, especially the most vulnerable, are facilitated in finding housing for the next three years.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Staikouras, and the Deputy Minister responsible for Infrastructure, Nikos Tachiaos, were informed about the progress of the Patras-Pyrgos highway works.

The timetables that had been set determined that by the end of June the completion of the project would be at a rate of 50% and today we are at approximately 52%. Estimates are that at the end of the year we will be at a 75% completion rate.

Well, the project is progressing on schedule, so that in 2025, as we have committed to deliver to citizens a modern and safe highway.

The reaction of the state apparatus was immediate from the first moment of outbreaks of plague of small ruminants in Thessaly.

So far there are two centers, in Meteora and Elassona. In both cases, a clinical examination has already been carried out on all the animals and units located in the protection zone. In Meteora it concerns about 3,500 animals, while in Elassona it concerns about 13,000 animals.

Until yesterday, 632 samples have been sent for laboratory testing by the control services of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, while since the day of the outbreak of the disease, 9 cases have been confirmed in Meteora (all in a very small radius, there is no spread) and one in Elassona.

The Region of Thessaly revoked all veterinarians’ licenses and everyone is in the field.

The Ministry also revoked the licenses of veterinarians both in the central service and in the supervised agencies (ELGO – DIMITRA, ELGA, OPEKEPE, EFET), which, as of yesterday, are moving to Larissa.

The other Regions of the country, the Hellenic Army and the University of Thessaly are assisting in the effort with veterinarians.

This morning, meetings are being held in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food Christos Kellas, the Regional Governor of Thessaly Dimitris Kouretas, the General Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food Giorgos Stratakos, representatives of the veterinary and agricultural services of the Region, and members of the Administration of the supervised entities of the Ministry.

The aim of the meetings is the better coordination of actions and the division of actions, as well as the proper supervision of livestock units, dairies, slaughterhouses, feed factories and feed sales points.

Today, 16 teams of veterinarians are operating in the field and tomorrow 30 teams will be operating, with the aim of faster clinical control of the animals and immediate containment of the disease.

EFET teams will visit all the cheese-making units in Thessaly with the aim of informing and confirming the correct management of milk, in accordance with the European disease management rules.

As the Minister of Rural Development and Food Kostas Tsiaras pointed out, in a meeting held on Friday, there is no risk to public health, while he clarified that the disease concerns only goats and sheep and in no case is it transmitted to other species of animals.

At the same time, both the managers of the veterinary services and the scientific staff of the Veterinary School of the University of Thessaly, it became clear that the consumption of milk and meat poses no risk to public health, as long as the rules laid down by the European Union are respected.

It is noted that by decision of the Regional Governor of Thessaly, Mr. Kouretas, the movement of sheep and goats and lambs throughout the Region of Thessaly is prohibited for any reason until the completion of the epidemiological investigation of the disease and the issuance of a new decision, while the slaughter of sheep and goats in the slaughterhouses of the region is also prohibited as and on Friday July 26″.