Tsiodras

Athens University Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases Sotiris Tsiodras, one of the PM's top advisors on COVID-19, has said that he expects a gradual return to normalcy, but that the virus's endemic presence will continue.

Health Minister Vasilis Kikilias and Athens University Medical School Professor of Epidemiology Sotiris Tsiodras met today with the 12-member Permanent Holy Synod to persuade the Orthodox Church of Greece to join the state's massive vaccination push to build a wall of immunity by the end of August.

"It is a given that this summer would be difficult, it is an exercise of great balance", stressed the Minister of Tourism, Haris Theocharis.

"We are trying to make sure that we take as few restrictive measures as possible, but without endangering the health of our tourists and citizens," he said, referring to the rise of the Delta mutation in Britain.

With a thumbs up shortly after 1pm today Efstathia Kambisiouli - the head nurse at COVID-19 reference hospital Evangelismos - became the first Greek to receive the Pfizer-Bio-N-Tech vaccine.

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios gave his blessings to Greek medical staff that are fighting the Covid-19 pandemic in a phone call on Friday with infectious disease expert and government adviser on the crisis Sotiris Tsiodras.