Explaining Greece’s success in flattening the COVID-19 curve

The Greek government has managed the coronavirus crisis with rapid, decisive, comprehensive, transparent and innovative actions.

Recording one of the lowest number of COVID-19 cases in the European Union (EU), Greece has “set the bar” for managing coronavirus, U.S. Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic Geoffrey Pyatt told Athens 9,84 Radio in April. By the 28th of that month, the country had seen just 136 virus-related fatalities from a total of 2,534 cases—equating to 243 cases per one million of its 11 million population, far lower than neighbors Spain (4,965 cases per million) and Italy (3,298 cases million), as well as the U.S. (3,058 cases per million), for example.

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Effective measures limit spread of coronavirus

The country introduced containment measures much earlier than others—prior to detecting its first case on 26 February, people on incoming flights were being quarantined where appropriate and large-scale events started to be cancelled a day later.

Greece lifts its lockdown

The government’s tough containment measures have been supported by all parts of society, including political opponents, businesses and citizens.

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