ATHENS — Greece confirmed 3,445 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, with 9 of these identified at entry points to the country, the National Public Health Organization (EODY) said on Wednesday.

Greece has confirmed 285,015 infections from the start of the pandemic (daily change: +1.2 pct). In the confirmed cases of the last 7 days, 94 infections are related to travel from abroad and 2,711 to other confirmed cases. Rt spreadability rate is assessed at 0.96 (95 pct Crl: 0.4-1.54).

There are also 75 deaths recorded in the last 24 hours, bringing the total of pandemic victims to 8,607. Of these, 95.6 pct had an underlying condition and/or were 70 years old.

A total of 749 patients are on ventilators in hospitals. Their median age is 68 years and 84.1 pct have an underlying condition and/or are aged 70 or more. Another 1,805 have been discharged from ICUs since the pandemic began.

In addition, 524 Covid-19 patients were admitted to hospital in the last 24 hours, a drop of 0.38 pct from the previous day. The average admission of patients with Covid-19 to hospitals over the last 7 days was 517.

The median age of new infections is 44 years (range: 0.2 to 105 years), while the median age of the deceased is 79 (range: 0.2 to 103 years).

Despite restrictions on movement and gatherings and the closures of bars, restaurants and retail stores for months, coronavirus cases have been surging in Greece. Hospitals are under strain and many intensive care units are at capacity.

Despite the surge, retail stores in most of the country reopened Monday on an appointment-only basis. Cafes, restaurants and bars remain shut and are allowed to operate on a takeout or delivery basis only, while a 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew remains in place and people are allowed to leave home only for specific reasons and after sending a text message to authorities or carrying a self-declaration form. Masks are compulsory in all public indoor and outdoor areas.

But after five months of restrictions, many are openly flouted and crowds outside cafes and bars serving drinks in plastic cups have become common in the evenings.