PUBLIC HEALTH RESTRICTIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic is not over. The virus is still here and the currently prevalent variant has been described as the most transmissible to date, with a surge of infections.

The head of the WHO warned that the global massive increase in the number of recorded infections – which we have witnessed in Greece - could be just the tip of the iceberg.

The daily number of deaths remains high, but most epidemiologists agree that we are near the end of this painful adventure and that soon we may be more optimistic.

Tennis star Novak Djocovic did not merely express his personal convictions. He believed that public health restrictions are not for him due to his international status.

As regards vaccination, we must all hasten to get the third jab, which experts say is necessary, especially with the onslaught of the Omicron variant.

Political parties must tone down their rhetoric and all of us together must confront the common enemy with patience, decisiveness, and discipline.

It should be clear by now that public health restrictions are not a punitive measure, but rather a basic precondition for the protection of public health and our lives.

Main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras demanded that churches comply with public health regulations that apply to all other venues (except for supermarkets and pharmacies).

It is not acceptable for a large segment of the population - unvaccinated people - to lead us to backpedaling, even as the economy is still vulnerable, despite hopeful signs of recovery.

On October 6, the COVID-19 Committee lifted restrictions on vaccinated citizens in red zones and said the move would be reviewed in two weeks. Now, that will happen on 3 November.

This year we know much more about the virus and how to protect ourselves. We also know that hopes for a regular Easter will be dashed once again.

The spate of coronaparties did not come out of the blue. Over the three-day holiday last weekend, around 30 protests were conducted in an organised fashion.