‘Too soon’ to discuss lockdown easing, say health experts

Lockdown measures that went into force on November 7 appear to be bearing fruit as the number of new coronavirus infections drops, but it is unlikely they will be eased next week, Alkiviadis Vatopoulos, a professor of microbiology and one of the experts on the government's advisory committee, said on Tuesday.

"We have seen a small ray of hope in recent days with the new cases, but this does not mean we can relax," the University of Western Attica professor told Skai television, a day after the National Public Health Organization (EODY) reported 1,044 new cases on Monday, down from 2,013 on Friday, 1,747 on Saturday and 1,193 on Sunday.

Despite the gradual decline of transmission, daily infections are still too high to justify easing restrictions on public movement and economic activity, Vatopoulos said, adding that they will have to drop to between 300 and 500 a day...