The Greek public sector observed a 24-hour strike Thursday, November 26 to demand "
substantial measures for the protection of health
", the police are on their side on a war footing to ban demonstrations in full containment.
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The government extended the confinement until December 7 until December 7, initially scheduled to last until November 30 due to the large number of patients infected with Covid-19 and the significant pressure exerted on hospitals.
Dozens of bikers, employees of the Ministry of Employment, briefly demonstrated outside their ministry in central Athens, waving red and black flags, according to images posted on social media.
The hospital workers union also called for a demonstration in front of the health ministry, demanding "
the Christmas bonus for all staff
" and "
the strengthening of protective measures
".
Two hundred people belonging to left movements marched some 500 meters in the city center before the police asked them to disperse, according to an AFP journalist.
The capital is deprived of the metro for 24 hours on Thursday, while bus and trolleys drivers also had to observe a work stoppage at the end of the afternoon.
No maritime connection between the mainland and the islands took place Thursday following the participation of the seafarers' union in this mobilization.
Journalists from the public and private media, for their part, observed a two-hour work stoppage at the end of the morning to protest against "
any intervention (by the government) in the midst of a pandemic which undermines the rights to social security and the freedoms of employees
".
Their unions are calling for "
more tests on employees to continue working
" and "
the strengthening of public health services to deal with the pandemic
".
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Large police forces were deployed in the streets of Athens to ban demonstrations, since since the implementation of containment on November 7, all gatherings are prohibited.
Spared by the first wave of the pandemic in the spring, Greece has been particularly affected since the fall and its health services, traditionally failing, are under great pressure.
The country has deplored a hundred deaths daily in recent days (1902 in total since February).
The average of contamination in 24 hours by Covid-19 amounts to more than 2,000 (97,200 cases in total).