Development and Investments Minister Adonis Georgiadis on Friday emphasised that there was "no need to panic" over the Omicron variant, while speaking on Mega TV about the protection measures put into effect as of Friday morning to intercept its spread in the community. He also replied to questions about the prospect of a lockdown after the Christmas holidays.
The minister noted that people who have had the first two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine and are waiting to get the third are still protected, as they have antibodies and cell immunity from the first two doses.
Additionally, he pointed out that only very few people infected by Omicron variant need an ICU. "Even if we have have 50,000 infections a day, there is no need to panic," he added.
Regarding the new measures, he said that the specific measures that have been announced were for the holidays. Next week the epidemiologists' committee will convene again to see if there is a surge in cases. If there is a surge, additional measures will be taken for the following week, which will again be mild in nature. "At the start of the year we will have a few more measures, not a lockdown, simply in order to put a halt to the spread," he added.
"The committee recommends, the government decides. We should work well during the holidays and there is no need for panic. Greece remains an open market and economy," he said.
Asked about providing free rapid tests to the vaccinated, he said: "If the government subsidises rapid tests for the entire population without stopping and forever, these are billions and we will go bankrupt."