Cold weather and more social gatherings during the holidays have led to more seasonal virus infections. This was expected, said Charalambos Charilaou, spokesperson for OKYPY. He stressed the need for good personal hygiene and responsible behavior. He also assured that public hospitals are ready to handle the extra demand.
Mr. Charilaou mentioned that during New Year and Christmas, more people visited the Accident and Emergency Departments of public hospitals. He explained that many personal and specialist doctors were on leave, putting more pressure on emergency departments.
Despite this, he noted that Rapid Patient Movement Clinics helped ease the burden on emergency departments. Non-urgent cases were treated there quickly, which left a good impression on citizens.
Talking about seasonal viruses like influenza A, he said some patients are hospitalized in public hospitals. Admissions happen daily, mostly involving elderly people and those with health issues or weak immune systems.
In this situation, he urged everyone to be careful if they show symptoms, even without strict measures in place. He recommended limiting outings, avoiding large gatherings, and being cautious around vulnerable groups. He pointed out that elderly individuals may need hospitalization more easily when they get sick.
While more cases are expected, the OKYPY representative assured that the public health system is ready to respond and provide care.
Lastly, he explained that the recent cold temperatures make things worse. They force people into closed spaces that aren’t well-ventilated, raising the risk of virus spread. For this reason, he repeated the importance of airing out spaces, washing hands often, and keeping distance from vulnerable individuals when symptoms appear.
