Editorial: Shadows and whispers

The deadly second wave of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Northern Greece, which is characterised by a super spread of the virus, took public health authorities by surprise, devastated local hospitals, and to a large extent changed the epidemiological picture of the country as a whole, stirring heightened concern in the population.

In the cities of Western Macedonia transmission of the virus has literally spun out of control as hospitals are unable to treat a massive flow of patients. They exceeded their strength and capabilities quite a while ago and patients are being airlifted even as far as Athens.

The consensus is that the situation got out of control because of lax enforcement of public health regulations and poor reflexes, despite the experience gained in handling the epidemic last spring during the first wave, which revealed substantial weaknesses in the region.

It is indeed baffling that until late October authorities viewed Thessaloniki and most cities in the province of Macedonia as a model of management of the epidemic despite the many signals that should have triggered the concern of those responsible.

It has been noted that for a long time the number of cases was much greater than what was officially reported, even as right under the nose of competent authorities the viral load was rising rapidly.

The case of the northern city of Drama is characteristic. It is believed that the data that was released periodically did not reflect the true public health situation in the city.

Now it has been confirmed that nearly 25 percent of the population of the city has fallen ill and of course that has devastated the endurance and capacity of the local hospital.

Not a few attribute the greater part of the blame to the National...

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