World Media Commend Greece on Coronavirus Crisis Control

The Hellenic Parliament. Photo Source: @PressParliament

Media worldwide are praising the Greek government on its handling of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, as it remains among the few countries in the world with low infection and death rates.

On Friday afternoon, Greece reported 89 Covid-19-related deaths and 1,955 confirmed cases of infection.

Greece was among the countries to immediately impose restrictive measures including shutting down schools, canceling public events and closing down spaces, enforcing social distancing and imposing a strict stay-at-home order.

Bloomberg, Italy’s Corriere della Sera and other newspapers are referring to the Greek government’s immediate response, comparing the significantly lower death toll to those in neighboring Italy and Spain, where Covid-19 has left a devastating effect on human life.

Reports add that Greece has also contained the spread of the virus significantly compared to European countries such as Belgium, Portugal and the Netherlands.

Bloomberg goes on to praise Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his team for maintaining calm and reason as well as for bringing together all political parties in this emergency situation.

At the same time, reports also praise the Greek people who are for the most part abiding by the stringent rules.

The Acropolis in Athens. Photo Source: GNTO

Despite managing to contain the virus to a great extent, Greece stands to suffer one of considerable blow to its economy, particularly after a nearly 10-year economic crisis and due to its heavy reliance on tourism – a key employer and revenue generator.

In efforts to mitigate the economic repercussions of the coronavirus health crisis, the Greek government has also been quick to tap into EU support options, extend funding to small and medium-sized businesses, and subsidize dismissed workers.

Described as a “noticeable – and perhaps surprising – exception” and given Greece’s swift response to the coronavirus outbreak, “the country might be able to get back on its feet sooner than others”, the Bloomberg report concludes.