Greece set a new daily record for COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, registering 50,126 cases. There were also 61 deaths.
The previous record of 40,560 cases was set on December 31.
These record case numbers come as Greek schools prepare to reopen on January 10, as planned, with increased COVID-19 testing.
The announcement was made during a briefing by Education Minister Niki Kerameus, Health Minister Thanos Plevris and Professor Vana Papaevangelou, a member of the Health Ministry’s committee of experts.
Pupils will be required to take three self-tests in the first week of school following the winter break. After that, pupils (regardless of their vaccination status) will do a test twice a week.
In the event that a pupil is found positive for COVID-19, all pupils and teachers will have to undergo testing for the next five days (two rapid and three self-tests).
The cost of these PCR molecular tests at private laboratories and clinics have also now been capped at 47 euros from Thursday, following a recent decision by Greece’s Development Ministry.
Greece’s total number of confirmed coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic is 1,344,923, with 21,053 deaths.
Greek tennis player Despina Papamichail lost 3-6, 0-6 to Czech Marie Bouzkova in the 1st round of the Adelaide International in a match that lasted 73 minutes.
“It was a tough match and I am not used to versing players of this level. I take the positives and seek to improve my game. I look forward to playing in Melbourne,” Papamichail told The Greek Herald after the match.
“I am not focusing on rankings but her game was a level up.”
Ranked no. 182 (career-high), Despina reached the 1st round after defeating Francesca Jones 3-6 6-2 6-1 and Stefanie Voegele 6-4 7-6.
“I am ready for the Australian Open qualifiers and I take things from day to day and from match to match. I feel good, I am well prepared, well trained and in good spirits and we will see the results.”
Sending her message to The Greek Herald’s readers, Dimitra invited Melbourne’s Greek diaspora to keep supporting them.
“It’s very special to have the Greek community to support you so far away from home. I thank them and I invite them to come and celebrate together the victories that are to follow in Melbourne.”
On a Tuesday morning during the Christmas Holidays the Port Noarlunga Fish and Chips Shop (also known as Jimmy’s Fish and Chips) is full of people -tourists and locals alike- queuing up to enjoy freshly, hand cut chips and some of the best fish in Adelaide’s south.
Behind the counter meeting and greeting their customers is owner Jimmy Leonardos with his daughter Marina.
“I love what I do,” Jimmy (nicknamed ‘Old Man’), 70, says with a beaming smile.
With almost half a century combined experience in the hospitality industry, he and his Italian wife Kathy, had been running the business for three decades before their daughter Marina and son-in-law Kosta, took over the daily operations a few years ago.
Kathy and Jimmy Leonardos
“We got tired after all these years working non-stop and it was time to slow down. Marina and Kosta are doing great. We are by their side and they have our support,” Jimmy says proudly.
Throughout our interview, the Greek Australian restaurateur extends warm smiles to everyone that passes through his doors and exchanges jokes with the employees who are more like family.
It’s obvious that the business is a second home to him.
Kathy and Jimmy Leonardos with their three children
“We had nothing when we came to Australia from Epidavros, apart from some relatives who had immigrated to South Australia in the 1950s,” he says, when I ask him to delve into his family’s story.
It took them nearly a month aboard one of the Chandris Line migrant ships to reach Australian soil. Jimmy was then 10 years old.
“I was one of six children and there was no financial assistance for families back then apart from a $2 government relief payment for every child in the family.
“We had to work to support ourselves”
Kathy and Jimmy with their grandchidren
During the early years, the family lived in Renmark in a picker’s house for four years where they all did grape picking and pruning to make ends meet before they had enough savings to buy a house in Adelaide.
Jimmy was attending High school and, in the weekends, he was working at his uncle’s Fish and Chips shops in North Adelaide where he discovered his passion that he later turned into a business.
“I have done nothing else in my life but this,” he says.
Providing the community with quality food remains his most valued priority.
“We don’t sell something we don’t feed our family with,” clarifies Jimmy.
Marina, Kostas and their children
This value has been upheld and passed on to the new generations.
“Every night, no matter the workload and how busy the day has been we filter our oils,” son-in-law, Kosta says.
“There is a lot of work involved but we’d rather do this than compromise our quality and undermine our reputation. We respect our customers.”
Jimmy cooking with Adam Liew
Kosta admits that their business is neither immune to the challenges brought-on by the pandemic nor to general supply issues the industry is currently facing but the family chose to keep an optimistic perspective while supporting local growers and fishermen whenever they can.
“I come to the shop with a smile on my face or I don’t come at all,” he says boldly.
“We have a long-lasting legacy and we will not let it slip. We will be here for a long time to come. For at least another 30 years.”
Freshly cooked food, some Greek ‘Philotimo’, warm hospitality and a bright smile to go with all this!
Here is to the next 30 years Port Noarlunga Fish and Chips Shop!
The International Baccalaureate (IB) results have been released this week and Greek Australian students across New South Wales have excelled.
The IB is an international school-leaving credential. It has fewer in-class assessments and about 80 percent of a student’s result is based on the final exam.
In NSW, a total of 584 students successfully completed the course with an average score of 37.77 out 45.
Montana Cominos is one of ten students who received a perfect IB score of 45 at MLC School. Photo: James Brickwood.
Ms Cominos was also joined by a number of other Greek Australian students across the state including Anastasia Gikas from Saint Sabina College, Ross Psaroulis from Redlands and Alexandra Bako from Kambala Girls with scores of 45. Denis Antipas from Newington College also received a 42 IB score.
In South Australia, Alana Spirou from Mercedes College also scored 41 IB points, equating to an ATAR of 98.55.
Congratulations to all Greek Australian students!
*Please Note:The above recipients are those The Greek Herald could identify by their Greek name. If you believe you should be on this list please contact: info@foreignlanguage.com.au.
The Greek Culture Ministry has revealed that a life-size marble female statue was discovered by accident in the excavation area of ancient Epidavros in December last year.
The statue, which archaeologists have tentatively dated from the Imperial Roman Period, was found after heavy rain hit the area revealing a small part of the back of the statue, the ministry said in a press release.
⚒Νέο εύρημα στην #Επίδαυρο: Αγαλμα γυναικός με ποδήρη χιτώνα
➡Φυσικού μεγέθους, μαρμάρινο, πολύ καλής ποιότητας
➡Bρέθηκε ακέραιο, με εξαίρεση τα χέρια, που ήταν πρόσθετα, & το κεφάλι, που πιθανότατα έσπασε κατά την πτώση του
— Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού και Αθλητισμού (@cultureGR) December 29, 2021
The figure was wearing a tunic and a robe, but it was missing its arms and head. The statue was transferred to a warehouse for storage, cleaning and maintenance.
The site where the object was discovered has been systematically excavated since 2015 by a research team of the University of Athens, with the financial support of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation.
Turkey’s Defence Ministry has uploaded a provocative video on Twitter showing navy cadets swimming a similar distance to the Greek island of Kastellorizo, in a symbolic effort to underscore the island’s proximity to the Turkish coast.
In comments made on December 24, Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar challenged Greece’s maritime zone around Kastellorizo, emphasising that the Greek island is located at a distance of 1,950 meters from the country’s coast.
Millî Savunma Üniversitesi Deniz Harp Okulunda (DHO) eğitimlerine devam eden Harbiyeliler; “Planlı Açık Deniz Yüzme Eğitimleri” kapsamında, DHO İç Liman'dan 1.950 metre mesafedeki Tuzla Adası'na yüzerek gitti.@msuedutrpic.twitter.com/YMyXJTRbi9
Later, in a video uploaded on January 1, twelve cadets of the National Defense University Naval Academy are seen swimming from their academy to the islet of Tuzla, which is approximately the same distance.
“A cadet at the military academy can swim to it,” Akar said.
Tennis fever has hit Adelaide and Sydney this week with both the Adelaide International and ATP Cup tournaments going ahead.
A number of Greek tennis stars have been playing in these tournaments and so far there’s been mixed success with plenty of wins but also a number of losses.
Here’s your Monday rundown.
Maria Sakkari and Despina Papamichail win in Adelaide:
Relative newbie, Despina Papamichail, has kicked off her tennis season with a bang at the Adelaide International tournament.
Papamichail first beat 9th seed, Francesca Jones, in qualifying 3-6 6-2 6-1.
Sakkari admitted she had been well below her best as she warms-up for the Australian Open later this month.
“It wasn’t a good match from my side but I found a way through it, I did everything I had to do to win – which sometimes is enough – and I’m excited to be in the second round,” she said after the match.
Stefanos Tsitsipas loses to Schwartzman in first singles match of year:
Argentine ace, Diego Schwartzman, has upset world No.4, Stefanos Tsitsipas, to claim the tie against Greece and keep his nation top of Group D in Sydney.
The Argentine won the epic battle 6-7(5) 6-3 6-3 on Monday.
Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images.
Tsitsipas, who had surgery in November and missed Saturday’s meeting with Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz before playing the doubles rubber, took advantage of Schwartzman’s misfiring serve to gain the early advantage at the Ken Rosewell Arena.
He grabbed an early break in the second set but lost his way thereafter, as Schwartzman clawed his way back and levelled the contest before fending off a late comeback attempt to help Argentina stay unbeaten in Group D.
After the match, Tsitsipas revealed he was unsure whether the elbow injury would allow him to continue playing in the ATP Cup.
“I really don‘t know how I’m going to feel tomorrow,” Tsitsipas said.
While Tsitsipas said he thought he would have enough time to recover and play at the Australian Open in two weeks, he conceded he was in uncharted waters.
“That is enough (time to recover), I believe. But I haven‘t had (this kind of injury) before, so I don’t know. It’s my first time experiencing something like this,” he said.
Michail Pervolarakisloses ATP Cup singles match:
Michail Pervolarakis fought against Federico Delbonis (No. 44) in the ATP Cup on Monday, but was ultimately defeated in both sets.
The 25-year-old tennis player, No. 399 in the world, was defeated 7-6 (5), 6-1 in 91 minutes by the left-handed Argentine.
This was Team Greece’s second defeat in the tournament, meaning they are now out of the semi-finals.
Team Greece lose doubles match:
Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni completed a terrific day for Argentina at the ATP Cup with a tiebreak doubles victory over Greece in Sydney.
Gonzalez and Molteni triumphed 6-3, 4-6 (11-9) over Markos Kalovelonis and Petros Tsitsipas to complete a 3-0 clean sweep and stay top of Group D ahead of Poland.
Fragments of the Parthenon Marbles exhibited at the Athens Archaeological Museum were reunited in the Acropolis Museum on Monday during a symbolic ceremony.
The handover ceremony at the Acropolis Museum was attended by Greek Culture Minister, Lina Mendoni, and Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who again called for the return of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum to Greece.
“This sends a strong message for the reunification of all parts of this unique monument to humanity,” Mitsotakis said.
A fragment from the Parthenon is being installed at the Acropolis Museum on Monday. Credit: Greek PM Press Office.
“It is a first, but very important, step in the effort to gather here at the Acropolis Museum, all the smaller and larger parts of the Parthenon that are now scattered in various museums around the world.”
Mitsotakis then went on to highlight recent efforts made by Greece to call for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum and stressed his belief that UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, “will not block any possible future agreement [on the Marbles].”
Precious fragments of the Parthenon Sculptures were reunited today in the Acropolis Museum. It was a small but significant step, and I hope others now play their part in completing this important journey to reunify a truly unique monument of human civilisation. pic.twitter.com/AhroWEwxEp
“If necessary, he could initiate the amendment of the British law on museums in order to facilitate the reunification of the Parthenon sculptures. There are no more substantial arguments to delay this important issue…” Mitsotakis said.
The fragments being returned on Monday were from the frieze, the metopes and pediments of the Parthenon. One of them is the head of a youth from a sculpture that is currently held in the Louvre in Paris, while the second is from the north section of the frieze.
The event ended with the placement of the shards in their permanent positions.
Maria Sakkari battled past Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek in three sets to reach the second round of the Adelaide International on Monday and kick off the new WTA season.
The 26-year-old world number six Greek was on court for just over two hours before seeing off Zidansek 6-2, 0-6, 6-4.
Sakkari, admitted she had been well below her best as she warms-up for the Australian Open later this month.
“I didn’t feel great to be perfectly honest,” she said.
“It wasn’t a good match from my side but I found a way through it, I did everything I had to do to win -which sometimes is enough- and I’m excited to be in the second round.”
Third seed, Sakkari will now play either American Shelby Rogers or a qualifier.
“I want to be ready for the next match and yes, I am here to win this tournament but my main goal is to be prepared for the Australian Open.”
Asked whether she will participate in the upcoming Sydney Tennis Classic, Sakkari said it all depends on how far she will progress at the Adelaide International.
“I am not confident with moving states due to COVID so at this point we will try not to take unnecessary risks.”
Last year apart from making two Grand Slam semifinals, Sakkari debuted at the WTA Finals, broke into the top-10 for the first time in her career and was also announced Greece’s best female athlete.
Conveying her message to the youngsters who look up to her, the World No 6 says that she owes a lot to her team and to the values her parents instilled to her.
“Growing up, my parents taught me that no matter how far I reach in my career I need to be myself and remain humble. I am where because of those values and hard work.”
In 2021 Sakkari enjoyed the best season of her career at the age of 26 and now she definitely has started the season right in Australia with the Greek community by her side.
“It feels amazing. Wherever I go in Australia I see Greek people who appreciate what we have achieved so far and admire us. It’s great,” Sakkari concluded.
