PIRAEUS, Apr 4 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Greek ferry, “Eleftherios Venizelos” with 119 confirmed cases on board, docked at Piraeus port, as the Greek government started, on Friday, the transfer to the shore of 261 passengers who tested negative for the virus, Greek national news agency reported.
According to the report, the 119 infected will remain on board for a 14-day quarantine.
The ferry anchored outside the harbour since Mar 22, barred from docking as part of measures to restrict the spread of the virus.
A few days ago, two people on board tested positive and were transferred to a nearby hospital.
Those tested negative were being taken to hotels for a precautionary quarantine, in accordance with the COVID-19 protocol, and will be repatriated afterward, local officials said.
“All those infected are in good condition. I want to make clear that there is no problem and that most of them have no symptoms,” Nikos Hardalias, Deputy Minister for Civil Protection and Crises Management at the Ministry of Citizen Protection, told media, in front of the ship.
People who remain on board will be provided with full healthcare.
While the evacuation process was underway, Greek Health Ministry’s spokesman and infectious diseases professor, Sotirios Tsiodras, gave the latest update on the overall situation in Greece.
Six fatalities registered in the past 24 hours pushed the total to 59, he told a press briefing, broadcast live on national broadcaster ERT.
By Friday afternoon, Greece confirmed 1,613 infection cases since the first infection in the country was diagnosed on Feb 26.
A total of 92 patients are being treated in intensive care units, while 11 patients have been discharged from ICU’s, the expert noted.
The first confirmed case concerning a refugee in Greece was announced earlier this week. A 22-year-old refugee, who resided at Ritsona camp, was diagnosed with the infection at an Athens hospital where she gave birth, officials said.
The camp was now in quarantine, while the entire country is in a 14-day lock-down since Mar 23.– NNN-XINHUA
