ATHENS — About 73, mostly young, people on board the "Super Express" ferry from Ios were given rapid tests for Covid-19 in the port of Rafina by National Public Health Organization staff on Wednesday evening.

Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias confirmed the incident, talking about 14 confirmed cases of Covid-19 from the island of Ios, with an average age of 17 years, a fact that – as he stressed – highlights the importance of wearing masks, vaccination and the observance of health protection measures.

The ship, which sailed into the port of Rafina at 20:32 on Wednesday with 369 passengers and 28 crew members, was coming from Thira, Ios, Paros, Naxos, Mykonos, Tinos. On Thursday, the Super Express was disinfected by a special team and departed at 08:05 instead of the scheduled departure time of 07:05.

 Kikilias appeals to citizens once again to get vaccinated

Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias urged all people to get vaccinated, especially those who belong to vulnerable groups and people aged over 60, in an interview with public broadcaster ERT on Thursday.

Kikilias revealed that as part of the effort to persuade the citizens to get vaccinated, next Tuesday, July 13, he and Professor Sotiris Tsiodras will attend the Holy Synod and speak to the metropolitans about the need for vaccination, recalling that two of them have already lost their lives to coronavirus.

Asked about the target of achieving 70 pct immunity by the end of August, the minister replied that this continues to be a goal and will be achieved if those with naturally acquired immunity through infection with coronavirus are added to those who have been vaccinated.