Rapid virus testing in Athens as infections rise

(3 Mar 2021) People queued outside rapid tests centres in Athens on Wednesday after Greece reported its highest daily infection rate in nearly three months. The country has recorded a new spike in COVID-19 infections, nearly half of which were recorded in the greater Athens region where hospital intensive care units are quickly filling up. Health authorities on Tuesday reported 2,353 new confirmed infections over the past 24 hours, bringing the total to nearly 200,000. It was the highest number of new daily infections since December. Another 23 deaths were recorded, with the overall death toll at 6,557 in the country of 10.5 million people. More than 90% of ICU beds for COVID-19 patients in the greater Athens area are now occupied. Meanwhile, the government’s inoculation drive is proceeding fast with close to one million doses of the vaccine administered so far. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: