ATHENS – The Health Ministry’s coronavirus spokesman and infectious diseases professor Sotiris Tsiodras on Tuesday evening pointed out that reimposing severe restrictive measures would only be necessary if new infections and deaths rise significantly across the country.

Asked by Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) to comment on reported cases of diagnostic tests carried out on asymptomatic patients for a fee, he said that tests will be carried out based on scientific criteria and prioritizing, as it is "rather difficult to test 10 million Greeks every day."

He also mentioned the significance of Hand Hygiene Day, celebrated annually on May 5, emphasizing that it is a life-saving practice. He underlined the significance of making hand hygiene a global priority, especially during the current coronavirus outbreak, and also highlighted the importance of engaging health care workers in their role in clean-hands care for the prevention of infections.

The professor also announced 10 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Greece in the last 24 hours and no new deaths.

The Covid-19 infections total in Greece stands at 2,642. Some 598 cases were infected abroad and 1,317 in Greece.

Fatalities stand at 146 since the start of the outbreak; 39 of them were women. Of the 146, a 93.2 pct had underlying health issues and/or their average age was 70 years or more. The average age of all the deceased was 75 years of age.

Some 35 patients are being treated in Intensive Care Units with an average age of 67 years and 8 of these are women. A 97 pct of ICU patients have underlying health issues and/or are over 70 years of age.

Another 81 people have so far been discharged from ICUs.

Some 83,750 Covid-19 diagnostic tests have been carried out in Greece since the start of the outbreak.