Brits getting ready to travel to Greece for their summer holidays have been warned they are at risk of catching a new Covid variant.
An increase in the new FLiRT variant has been reported by the country after a sharp rise in hospital admissions.
Some 669 new Covid patients admitted from July 8 to 14- a 44% increase in the weekly average compared to four weeks ago.
In total, 26 Covid deaths have been reported by Greece’s National Public Health Organisation, EODY.
The Mentaxa Oncology Hospital in Piraeus, Athens reintroduced a mask policy and other protective measures.
The President Association of Hospital Doctors’ Union of Athens and Piraeus Matina Pagoni told MEGA: ‘It’s summer, we’re going on vacation, we never said the coronavirus was gone.
‘The truth is that this year, compared to last year, the cases have nothing to do with it.
‘There are too many, there are many hospitalisations and also deaths – 21-22 deaths are too many.’
The city of Thessaloniki has also seen a rise in cases through sewage testing.
The union also warned the outbreak is expected to continue until the end of July.
The symptoms of the FliRT variant are similar to earlier Covid strains.
These include fever, cough, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, body aches, short breath, headache and runny nose.
The World Health Organisation released a statement indicating Covid is still responsible for 1,700 deaths per week.
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