Roundup of Hydra's Current State of Affairs
A Difficult Fortnight But Still Optimistic
The last couple of weeks has seen an outbreak of Covid on Hydra, a house fire and the start of the island's vaccination program. Despite the continuing status of high alert with ICU's stretched to a critical-point, the Greek Government has announced new testing measures and the relaxation of a few restrictions. Here's how Hydra is affected.
From April, the Government will supply all pharmacies throughout the country will Rapid Self-Test Kits for distribution. So all Hydriots with an AMKA Social Security number will be able to go to the Gavalas or Rafalias pharmacies each week to collect a free-of-charge test. The results will help provide much-needed data, and anyone with a positive test will quickly know to self-isolate to minimise the spread of the virus.
Today, March 21, 2021, churches can open their doors wider to congregations, with 1 person per 25 m2 allowed inside. So on Hydra, that means 20 people at a time inside the main Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in town. Everyone else will have to socially-distance outside and take turns to rotate inside.
The curfew times have been changed to be the same, whatever the day of the week. So even at weekends, you can be out (with permit SMS) until 9 pm and from 5 am.
Fishing by residents from land or a local small boat is allowed again using SMS permit number 6.
And hairdressers and beauty salons are allowed to reopen by appointment. Thank goodness because I, for one, have been sporting a 'wild-and-woolly' look for far too long!
On March 18, 2021, at 14:00, a fire broke out on the second floor of a house in a small lane in the centre of Hydra Town. Locals in the immediate area rushed to help, calling our wonderful Volunteer Emergency Services, who, by 15:00, had it well under control and completely out by 15:20. The flames reached high above the house, and the fire burned fiercely. Miraculously no one was hurt, and everyone's fast action ensured it didn't spread to the neighbouring buildings.
The whole of the 2nd floor was gutted along with the roof. Smoke and water damage has finished off the ground floor, and the house is completely uninhabitable now. I passed by yesterday and commiserated with one of the owners who, with a friend, was still clearing bags of charred debris well into the evening. I also double-checked to ask if they had enough help. And of course, they had, explaining that there were more willing hands than for safety reasons could be allowed in the ruined building at any one time.
As of today, we have 8 active confirmed cases of Covid on the island. All are locked in home isolation, and all who had been in contact with the affected having ongoing tests but so far have proven negative. Sadly, one of the patients had to be transferred as an acute case to a mainland hospital ICU and intubated. Everyone's prayers, positive thoughts and well wishes for his good recovery are being sent to him and his family. This brings the number of confirmed cases on Hydra since the start of 2021 to 13.
Within a couple of days of the outbreak, the island's group vaccinations started for everyone born in 1961 or older that registered with the municipality in February. From Saturday 13 to Saturday 20, March 2021, 282 residents with AMKA social security numbers were given their first dose jabs of the Pfizer vaccinations. The second doses for this group will take place the week commencing April 3, 2021.
Groups that are at more risk because of their jobs, such as the island's emergency services, have been given any excess doses, so the vaccines sent haven't been wasted.
Many residents and some long-term locked down visitors who don't have an AMKA number will have to wait until the Government's online Emvolio.gov.gr site is fully operational to accept them. Anyone of eligible age, without an AMKA, should keep checking the site, so they see when they are allowed to register. And foreign residents with an AFM should contact the person who deals with their TaxisNet account to see if they already have one without knowing it!
The Emvolio.gov.gr site is now open for all people of any age with an underlying health condition to be vaccinated. However, at the moment, they can only get an appointment off-island at Galatas of Kranidi. This is causing some consternation as this vulnerable group don't want to put themselves at more risk by travelling to the mainland.
However, the vulnerable and non-AMKA groups should, in my opinion, wait a couple of weeks because I do know that the Municipality is trying to resolve this issue so that these groups can be vaccinated on Hydra soon. Dare I say it ... logic might suggest that waiting until the first week of April when this months 2nd Vac Jabs will take place would seem likely?
In the meantime, just because our relatively small outbreak is under control and a proportionally large percentage of vaccinations has started, everyone must still take care. The vaccinations aren't properly effective until after the second dose. We still have to wait a few more days to see if any contacts with those in isolation also show symptoms. And there are still people travelling between the island and the mainland.
Everyone must still use masks, socially distance and have a permit SMS when they are out.
We have to hang on a bit longer before we can travel for pleasure on and off the island, as at the moment, movement is still only permitted for essential and emergency reasons.
For the second Covid year, no carnival was held on Hydra, but some families managed some Clean Monday kite flying fun. And the long Lenten period leading up to the Greek Orthodox Pascha celebrations has started.
To our lovely visitors, Hydra is missing you as much as you are missing the island. Everyone here is getting more optimistic about hopefully seeing you after May 14, 2021.
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