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Good news from Greece

  • 15 April 2020
I once heard of a paper that published only good news. Next thing I heard it had gone broke. Unsurprisingly, for it seems that some part of human nature is hooked on bad news, and on bad news from big, important places.

In these troubled times of COVID-19, most news bulletins concentrate on the daunting figures from Italy, Spain, Britain and the USA. Little countries don’t get much of a mention. Greece is a little country, and the only mentions it gets in the mainstream press are dire forecasts of virus outbreaks in the country’s admittedly horrifying refugee camps, a prospect greatly to be feared, but so far not realised.

I didn’t vote for PM Mitsotakis, but must concede he is doing an excellent job: he heeded the grim scene developing in Italy, and acted with speed and decisiveness the minute danger threatened Greece. The first COVID-19 cases, three in number, were diagnosed on 26th February. The next day Carnival celebrations, always very big here in the run-up to Lent, were banned. Between 10th March and 13th March large numbers of shops, museums, archaeological sites and galleries were closed. So were schools and universities.

Since 23th March the whole country has been under strict lockdown: people are permitted to visit only supermarkets, the doctor, the chemist, banks, and people in need. Nobody can stir outdoors without permit and ID at the ready. These measures will be in force until 27th April, and could be extended beyond that date.

The PM is showing sound leadership, but the man of the hour is indisputably Professor Sotirios Tsiodras, an immunologist and specialist in infectious diseases, who presents a succinct report on the virus situation on national television every evening. He is methodical and calm in manner, and the country as a whole seems to be reassured by his presence. (I am absurdly pleased to learn he was born in Sydney!) He is accompanied by the impressive Deputy Minister for Civil Protection, Nikos Hardalias, and together they hold a Q and A session after their brief reports have been delivered.

I never thought I’d see the day when churches in Greece were closed, but closed they are, and for the first time ever Greeks are forbidden to return to their villages for Orthodox Easter, which falls on 19th April, a prohibition that is going to be hard for village oldies, who look forward to returns and celebrations every year. Mr Mitsotakis
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