Greece sets new record for daily COVID cases

By Magda Panoutsopoulou

ATHENS (AA) - Greece shattered its record for daily coronavirus cases Tuesday, with the Health Ministry reporting 21,657 new infections in the last 24 hours.

It is the highest daily tally the country has seen since the start of the pandemic and more than double Monday's record of 9,284.

The Attica region, where Athens is located, hit a record 9,882 cases alone, with the country's second-largest city, Thessaloniki, registering 2,665 infections.

Since the pandemic began, Greece has confirmed 1,105,885 infections.​​​​​​​

An additional 60 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 20,557.

Despite recent announcements by the government on extra measures imposed, the left-wing main opposition party Syriza criticized the current leadership for not being able to handle the crisis.

“(Prime Minister Kyriakos) Mitsotakis has been ignoring the proposals of SYRIZA and the scientists for measures to stop the pandemic," the party said in an announcement.

“He did not say anything about providing free rapid and molecular tests for citizens, increasing public transport, changing the protocols at schools, strengthening the national health system, requisitioning private clinics and expanding teleworking."

"And today, (Health Minister Thanos) Plevris left the window open for new measures. The only person who is not outraged by the incredible incompetence of the government is Mr. Mitsotakis himself, who continues his vacation while the country is οn the brink," it said.

“The government was proven below expectations," Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras said in a tweet