ATHENS — The epidemiological profile of the coronavirus pandemic in Greece seems to be stabilizing downwards, said children's infectious diseases specialist and Health Ministry coronavirus committee member Vana Papaevangelou at Thursday's regular live briefing.

This current phase in the pandemic is, however, transitional, she added. Current active infections number 19,000, while diagnostic test results are expected to go up every week, she pointed out. Correspondingly, some 350,000 tests were carried out every day so far this week, up from the 90,000 registered in previous days.

Infections among younger children and teenagers are also expected to register higher numbers soon, with schools having reopened on Monday.

One particularly positive indication mentioned by Papaevangelou is the fact that university students are registering the highest vaccination rate.

Alternate Health Minister Mina Gaga was also present at Thursday's briefing, who pointed out that over 65 pct of Greece's population has been vaccinated, but she urged that "we need this percentage to reach 100 pct soon."

She noted that the pandemic's course in the country is stable, but spikes do register in northern regions like in Pieria.

Most importantly, she said, it is imperative that older people be inoculated as soon as possible, as they run a risk of infection 10 times higher than any other age group.