At least 31 are the confirmed cases of covid 19 between monks inside Mount Athos, while four of them has been hospitalized already.
The Governor of Mount Athos, Athanasios Martinos, said that two weeks ago, the area was almost covid free with a maximum of 3-4 confirmed incidents. Today though, there have been confirmed so far 33-34 new cases.
As he explained, no case of covid 19 has been found in any monastery. The new incidents have been identified in cells of the New Hermitage on the south side of Mount Athos and in one cell in Agia Anna, grtimes.gr mentions.
According to Mr. Martinos, four monks had to be hospitalized in Thessaloniki where they are in simple covid beds without anyone having to be intubated so far.
The Commander of Mount Athos appears reassuring about the new infections, saying that the increased number are linked to the increase of cases in Northern Greece and especially in Halkidiki.
As he said “It is not true that monks who went out of the Mount Athos for work, brought the virus back with them».
At the mean time, a new extension of the suspension of all pilgrimage visits was announced by decision of Deputy Commander Aristos Kosmiroglou until April 15.
It has to be noted that in all the gates of Ouranoupoli, Tripiti and Ierissos, daily rapid tests are carried out, on each entrance.
At the same time, vaccinations among monks and workers have begun in Mount Athos although there is not much interest so far, for vaccination, notes Mr. Martinos, reminding, however, that in many cases immunity has been achieved by monks who fell ill, while many monasteries have defined and adhere to very strict protection measures.
