ATHENS – Tightening the screws on a third lockdown is working to gradually recede the number of cases of COVID-19 in Greece, but the number of people dying and needing to be put on ventilators keeps soaring.

There were 51 fatalities on March 11, including renowned composer Takis Mousafiris, the elderly and those with underlying conditions the most susceptible but even a newborn not spared.

The family of a 37-day-old infant who perished from Coronavirus complications asked an Athens Prosecutor’s Office to prove possible liability on the part of the doctors and medical staff who oversaw the baby’s treatment at the Aglaia Kyriakou Hospital.

“The family wants justice to be done and the causes of death to be known. We want to know if there was medical negligence,” said the family’s lawyer Antonis Sakaroudis, reported Kathimerini.

There were also 506 people in overflowing public hospital Intensive Care Units (ICU’s) as the New Democracy only now, more than a year after the pandemic began, is asking private hospitals and private doctors to help.

They aren’t being forced to aid despite the growing seriousness that led to the government adding further health restrictions and enforcement against violators that led to a riot between demonstrators and police.

The Athens Medical Association opened a platform where private doctors can register to join the battle following an appeal Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias who didn’t say whether private hospitals would be commandeered.

But there were only 20 responses, said the association, from eight pneumonologists, six pathologists and six general medicine practitioners but no other doctors or private hospitals offering help.

The association also called up hundreds of members conveying the Health Ministry’s plea but it was ignored as had been an earlier call to the private physicians which saw a paltry response.