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Turkey surpasses virus epicentre China in COVID-19 cases

Andriana Simos
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Turkey surpasses virus epicentre China in COVID-19 cases

Turkey’s confirmed coronavirus cases have risen to 86,306, the highest total for any country outside Europe or the United States.

An increase of 3,977 cases in the last 24 hours also lifted Turkey’s confirmed tally above that of China, where the coronavirus first emerged.

According to Turkey’s Health Minister, Fahrettin Koca, 127 more people have died, taking the death toll to 2,017.

“A total of 11,976 people have recovered from coronavirus so far, and the number of tests carried out over the past 24 hours came to 35,344,” Mr Koca said.

Turkey’s Health Minister confirmed the new coronavirus cases on Sunday, Source: First Channel.

Turkey’s infection rate has reportedly dropped from 15 percent to 9 percent in the past week, although many medical professionals have challenged the Health Ministry’s official figures, saying that the true number of cases and deaths are far higher than reported.

Further suspicion was raised after observers noticed the Turkish government’s tallies between COVID-19 deaths and the total numbers of cases have increased at a constant fixed rate for at least 10 days.

Turkey’s coronavirus measures:

  • The first case of coronavirus was reported in Turkey on March 11.
  • By March 16, the government had closed schools and universities, pavilions, bars and night clubs and a nationwide ban on prayer gatherings in mosques was also imposed.
  • Starting with Iran, Turkey had closed flights between 68 countries by the end of March and closed most of its land borders.
The streets of Istanbul are being regularly sanitised. Source: Istanbul Mayor’s Office.
  • On March 21, a total curfew was introduced for anyone over the age of 65. On April 3, that curfew was extended to people younger than 20 years old and using masks in public places became mandatory.
  • All vehicles, aside from essential deliveries, were also banned from entering Istanbul and 30 other cities.
  • Streets were also being regularly sanitised and hand sanitiser dispensers had been installed in public areas and on public transport.

Alexis Tsipras criticises Greek government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic

Andriana Simos
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Alexis Tsipras criticises Greek government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic

Former Prime Minister of Greece, Alexis Tsipras, has said in a televised interview that the Greek government is dealing with the coronavirus effectively, but it is “not the best government in the world.”

Speaking to Kontra TV, Tsipras praised the actions of Albania’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama, in particular and noted that his actions in the Balkan state can set a positive example for Greece.

“Greece is doing fine with regards to the pandemic when compared to the rest of the world. The measures are good, we are in a very good position in the world ranking, but we are not the best government in the world,” Tsipras said.

“If we say that we are the best government in the world, what should we say about Edi Rama then? That he is God? Albania has only 25 victims.”

Alexis Tsipras and current Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, have not always seen eye to eye. Source: Epikairotita.

Tsipras then said that current Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, should not be credited with the timely coronavirus measures as Greece implemented them shortly after Italy and together with the rest of the Balkans.

“We have to say that in Greece we are below the average death rate per million deaths. One of the factors is that we took timely measures,” he said.

“But I give credit to Italy who rang a bell for us and to a scientist who is not in Greece. To Mr Mosialos, who knocked on our door in early March and not in the summer when the country has a lot of tourism. “

During the interview, Tsipras also announced his intention to provoke a pre-agenda debate in Parliament immediately after the Easter break, to discuss the “security cushion” of the Greek economy.

“The government has no right to steal and ignore our interventions and not give an account of when, for whom and how it uses the cushion left by SYRIZA,” he concluded.

Up to 65 percent of Greek hotels face bankruptcy, new report warns

Andriana Simos
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Up to 65 percent of Greek hotels face bankruptcy, new report warns

A recent report by the influential Hellenic Chamber of Hotels has found that up to 65 percent of Greek hotels face bankruptcy due to the coronavirus lockdown.

To be specific, 65 percent of hoteliers say that the bankruptcy of their business is either “likely” or “most likely” – at 46.6 and 18.3 percent respectively.

In response to these statistics, the President of the Chamber, Alexandros Vasilikos, said “it will take a long time for the Greek tourist industry to return to the levels of 2019,” a year in which record numbers of tourists visited Greece.

“It’s very difficult to have a prediction for this year, but we all need to realise that every industry will change after this pandemic. Whether this change will last forever, or 10 years, or three years, nobody can know,” Mr Vasilikos told Business Insider Australia.

President of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, Alexandros Vasilikos, said the Greek tourist industry will take time to recover. Source: Fortune Greece.

“I’m not trying to brush anything under the carpet but for me, the important thing is that yes, we’re facing a very big drop in Greece, but it’s not different from other countries. No-one is travelling, so there is a big worry all across the touristic chain.”

According to a group of UBS analysts, Mr Vasilikos is not wrong as tourist spending across Europe fell 68 percent year-on-year in March 2020.

In Greece, the tourist industry has likely not been helped by Greece’s early decision to shut down all hotels which operate on a 12-month basis until April 30, 2020.

READ MORE: Hotels in Greece ordered shut as all passenger flights expected to be grounded.

Debt relief now possible in Greece but only after complete asset liquidation

Andriana Simos
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Debt relief now possible in Greece but only after complete asset liquidation

Greek people who owe money to banks or the state will now be eligible for bankruptcy, but only if everything they own is taken from them first.

According to the new bankruptcy code blueprint, debtors will enjoy total relief from their debts 24 months after they file for bankruptcy and 12 months after the actual bankruptcy comes to a close, provided they have had all their assets liquidated after a court decision.

The move marks the end of the Katseli law, which currently provides relief for people who cannot pay their bills because of almost a decade of harsh austerity measures such as big pay cuts, tax hikes and slashed pensions.

Elderly in Greece took to the streets in 2015 to protest the slashing of their pensions. Source: Young Journalists Club.

The New Democracy government said the new code will put an end to the time-consuming bankruptcy procedures that currently apply through the Katseli law, with some lasting up to 15 years.

The new framework is expected to be ready in the next couple of months under a plan designed to appease Greece’s creditors – the European Union, the European Central Bank, the European Stability Mechanism and the banks.

Mitsotakis: Greece is no longer the ‘black sheep’ of Europe

Andriana Simos
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Mitsotakis: Greece is no longer the ‘black sheep’ of Europe

Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said in an interview on Sunday that Greece is no longer the ‘black sheep’ of Europe, having shown discipline and resilience in its handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking to Kathimerini newspaper, Mitsotakis stressed that he was certain his move to impose restrictions early to contain coronavirus was right, despite the impact on a Greek economy that only emerged from its international bailouts in 2018.

“There are some mornings when I wake up and ask myself, ‘Was it necessary?’ We were headed for a very good year financially in 2020 and I honestly believed that we had put the crisis behind us,” Mitsotakis said.

“What is consoling, however, is that we are no longer a special case. We are not a black sheep… We are united in dealing with the pandemic and have demonstrated great fortitude and adaptability – something that has been, perhaps, surprising to many.”

Mitsotakis and Kathimerini reporter, Alexis Papachelas, sit down from their interview. Source: Kathimerini.

Mitsotakis then stated that he expects the deep recession this year to be followed by strong growth in 2021.

READ MORE: Greece successfully raises 2 billion euros from 7-year state bond.

“I believe that we will make a quick recovery. I know we will have a deep recession in 2020. But, provided that science gives us the answers we are waiting for, the recovery in 2021 will be greater than the 2020 recession,” the Greek Prime Minister stressed.

“We have matured and we are rebuilding something that was absent, not just during the crisis but throughout this country’s recent history: trust.

“Trust in the institutions and the state, and not just in the government. Trust in the people who have been assigned the power to protect us, to keep us safe and healthy.”

To stay afloat, Greece had signed up to three international bailouts in 2010-2015, when it teetered on the brink of a eurozone exit. Since then, its economy has been gradually emerging from crisis mode.

READ MORE: Greek Finance Minister: Expect a recession of up to 10 percent due to tourism losses.

Fire tears through Greek refugee camp after coronavirus protest [VIDEO]

Andriana Simos
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Fire tears through Greek refugee camp after coronavirus protest [VIDEO]

A fire has torn through Vial camp on Chios island following protests over the death of a 47-year-old Iraqi asylum seeker who had reportedly been suffering from a fever.

According to a report from Al Jazeera, the woman had been taken to hospital with a fever earlier this week but after she tested negative for coronavirus, she was brought back to the camp where she later died.

“This woman did not die of coronavirus but it appears the fear that she did die of coronavirus is what triggered the rampage, the riots overnight,” John Psaropoulos, an Al Jazeera reporter, said.

The blaze, which began during the riots, destroyed the facilities of the European asylum service, a camp canteen, warehouse tents and many housing containers, said Migration Ministry Secretary, Manos Logothetis.

The administration centre which housed hundreds of refugees was also burnt down. Source: Politischios.gr.

“A large part of the camp’s administrative services was destroyed but there were no injuries reported,” Mr Logothetis said.

“Authorities are still assessing the full extent of the damage, but a few hundred people are likely affected because their shelters have burned down.”

At least three vehicles outside the camp were also gutted.

A police source in Athens said two Afghans and an Iraqi had been arrested in relation to the unrest following the woman’s death.

The Coronavirus Easter: How Greece celebrated its greatest feast in lockdown

Andriana Simos
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The Coronavirus Easter: How Greece celebrated its greatest feast in lockdown

As strict curfew measures remain in place across Greece to limit the spread of coronavirus, millions of Greeks tried to find new ways to celebrate the greatest feast of the year at home.

Many Greeks spent the day with their close families and roasted lamb on their ‘souvla’ from the verandah and balcony.

“We had ordered and sent lambs to Corfu in order to go and celebrate Easter with relatives, but coronavirus came along and we are stuck here,” Vassilis Kourtelis told Reuters from the porch of his house in Athens while roasting the lamb.

Families celebrated alone in gardens, terraces or balconies. Source: Greek Reporter.

“But we are not going to let it ruin our mood. We are celebrating here with the family, as if we were there with our relatives. We send them video calls, they see us as we sing and dance.”

Others sent their orders to souvlaki shops and restaurants, which set up their traditional ‘souvla’ outside of their shops to prepare the meat and then deliver it to families.

Some people even sent their trays of food to nearby bakeries or takeaway shops in order for them to bake their Easter Sunday dinner for them.

Many people sent their trays of food to local bakeries or shops, which prepared them and sent them back to the families. Source: Greek Reporter.

This different Greek Easter celebration came in the face of the Greek Government banning unecessary movement from Holy Saturday night to Easter Monday midnight, doubling the fines for offenders.

“This Easter is different. We will not go to our villages. We will not roast in our yards. We will not go to our churches. And, of course, we will not gather in the homes of relatives and friends,” the government spokesman Stelios Petsas said at the time.

“For us to continue being together, this year we stay apart.”

Greece has a relatively low rate of infections at 2,235 people, including 113 fatalities.

Sydney-born virologist becomes Greece’s coronavirus ‘hero’

The Greek Herald
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Sydney-born virologist becomes Greece’s coronavirus ‘hero’

Sydney-born infectious diseases expert, Sotiris Tsiodras, has become a national hero in Greece as he helps to control the spread of COVID-19 and avert the tragically high infection and death rates seen in Italy and Spain.

While some Greeks admit they do not typically like to follow rules, Greek Australians living in the country’s capital cities and on islands have told The Sun-Herald they have embraced Dr Tsiodras’ advice on strict infection control measures.

Dr Tsiodras, 54, is a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at an Athens university and has been widely credited with alerting the Greek government of the need to act quickly to avoid the plights of France, Italy and Spain.

Infectious diseases expert and Greek health ministry spokesman, Sotiris Tsiodras. Source: ANA-MPA.

Each day at 6pm, he appears on television screens with an update on the latest infection rates, fatalities and outbreaks.

Italy’s La Figaro newspaper has called him the “new darling of the Greeks,” while Greece’s Ekathimerini publication named him the most popular person in Greece, after a poll conducted for Alpha TV.

Kathy Lekkas, who grew up in the Blue Mountains and lives in Thessaloniki with her husband and their three sons, watches Dr Tsiodras’ nightly updates.

“People like him and respect him. They see Dr Tsiodras as a hero. He comes out and tells us the medical side of it,” she told The Sun-Herald.

“He is humble and speaks like an every day person. Everyone is very positive about the steps the government has taken.”

Ms Lekkas said Greeks did not like to follow rules but had made an exception to protect their health. For more than a month, families have stayed home unless shopping or exercising. Many get their food delivered.

Kathy Lekkas in Thessaloniki. Source: Anna Patty / SMH.

Ms Lekkas said she was surprised to see news reports about people fighting over toilet paper in Australian supermarkets.

“We couldn’t get face masks for a while. People are buying supplies to last them for a couple of weeks,”she said.

Dr Tsiodras grew up in Sydney and completed his medical training in Greece and at Harvard University. He is internationally recognised in his field and has published hundreds of peer-reviewed research papers.

He is also a father of seven children and a religious man who sings as a cantor in the Greek Orthodox church.

Analysis of World Health Organisation data by Emilio Ferrer, of public policy consultancy Sphere, has found that Spain’s COVID-19 incidence rate is 42 times higher than that of Greece. Italy has an incidence rate that is 38 times higher and France, 27 times higher.

Mr Ferrer’s analysis show that Greece has an estimated COVID-19 incidence rate of 65 people per 100,00 population – the lowest incidence rate in the European Union.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald.

Easter Sunday Hymn celebrates resurrection of Jesus

The Greek Herald
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Easter Sunday Hymn celebrates resurrection of Jesus

On Easter Sunday, according to the Christian calendar, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated. We stay home these days of the Divine Passion and through The Greek Herald, we participate in the mystagogy of the days, listening daily to the hymns of the Orthodox Church. Today they are Easter Sunday.

Κυριακή του Πάσχα

Την Κυριακή του Πάσχα σύμφωνα με το χριστιανικό εορτολόγιο εορτάζεται η Ανάσταση του Ιησού Χριστού. Μένουμε σπίτι αυτές τις ημέρες του Θείου Πάθους και μέσω του «Ελληνικού Κήρυκα» συμμετέχουμε στη μυσταγωγία των ημερών, ακούγοντας καθημερινά τους ύμνους της ορθόδοξης εκκλησίας. Σήμερα αυτοί της Κυριακής του Πάσχα.

Your Guide to Easter Sunday at home

The Greek Herald
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Your Guide to Easter Sunday at home

On the Great and Holy Feast of Pascha, Orthodox Christians celebrate the life-giving Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

This feast of feasts is the most significant day in the life of the Church. It is a celebration of the defeat of death, as neither death itself nor the power of the grave could hold our Saviour captive. In this victory that came through the Cross, Christ broke the bondage of sin, and through faith offers us restoration, transformation, and eternal life.

Traditions

After the midnight service, Greeks enjoy the mayiritsa soup, tsoureki (sweet bread), and red eggs. Before the eggs are eaten, there’s a traditional challenge called tsougrisma. Holding your egg, you tap the end against the end of your opponent’s egg, trying to crack it. The eggs are often made in very large quantities since the game continues the next day with even more friends and family.

The main focus of Easter Sunday is on traditional Greek Easter foods. While people this year may not be making a spit or cooking a roasted lamb, Greeks will enjoy the other foods presented during the Pascha feast.

Ovens are filled with traditional accompaniments and all the trimmings, such as patates fournou (potatoes roasted with citrus and oregano) and spanakotyropita (spinach and cheese pie). The meal is usually a lengthy affair, often lasting long into the night, sometimes up to four hours.

Icon of the Feast

One of the most symbolic of the Festal Icons of the Orthodox Church is that of the Holy Resurrection. In the center of this radiant event is Christ pulling Adam and Eve up from their tombs.

The gates of the Realm of Death are broken and thrown down. In the background stands the host of the departed, so numerous they cannot be depicted. Among them in the front of the multitude are some of the righteous dead, though now invigorated by the Resurrection.

King David and his son Solomon are seen on the left wearing crowns. Near the center is Saint John the Baptist. On the other side is Abel, the son of Adam and the first man to ever die. He wears a shepherd’s robe and has a cane. Many Icons of this subject depict large crowds with a few other recognizable prophets.

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.

Sourced by: Spruce Eats

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