The ongoing extreme heat in Greece continues to disrupt the summer tourist season, leading to another unexpected negative consequence. According to The Independent, tourists planning to vacation in Greece this summer have been warned about a surge in cases of the new FLiRT COVID-19 variant over the past 20 days.
The National Organization for Public Health of Greece reported a recent increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations: from July 8 to July 14, 2024, 669 new patients were admitted, marking a 44% rise compared to the previous four weeks. Additionally, 26 COVID-related deaths were recorded. The summer spike in COVID-19 cases in Greece is attributed to people seeking refuge indoors from the intense heat, where the virus spreads more efficiently.
In response, some Greek hospitals have reinstated mandatory mask-wearing policies and limited the number of visitors, who must also present a negative rapid COVID-19 test.
British health experts suggest that the FLiRT and LB.1 variants evade immunity developed from existing COVID-19 vaccines or previous infections with other strains due to their constant mutation.
The symptoms of the FLiRT and LB.1 variants are generally similar to those of earlier COVID-19 strains: fever, cough, fatigue, loss of taste and smell, sore throat, muscle aches, shortness of breath, headache, and runny nose.
Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement indicating that COVID-19 still accounts for approximately 1,700 deaths per week globally.
