To what degree Covid-19 restrictions could be loosened is set to be the central issue on Tuesday as government advisors hold their weekly meeting against a backdrop of other countries scrapping health passes altogether, but some advisors appear to be hesitant.
One member of the government’s scientific advisory team on Covid-19 has said that lifting restrictions on unvaccinated adults will be discussed, while it has been proposed that 12-18-year-olds who remain unjabbed may no longer be barred from most public venues, such as bars, cafés and restaurants. They would, however, still be subject to 24-hour Covid-19 tests should they wish to enter such areas.
Epidemiologist Michalis Voniatis told state broadcaster CyBC that the pandemic indicators show a decrease in cases but more importantly, a decrease in hospitalisations and that the overall picture in Cyprus is good.
But another government adviser, Pediatrics Lecturer at European University Cyprus Zoi Dorothea Pana is erring on the side of caution, urging against “hasty” moves to lift the restrictions.
She told CNA on Sunday that “the balance by which we are keeping society open should not be disturbed”, but on Monday added that the measures could be simplified – although this could be done gradually.
She said discussions on possible relaxations should take into account the fact that “we are still amid a pandemic wave with consistently increased inpatient indicators in hospitals”.
Daily Phileleftheros cited health ministry sources as saying that efforts are underway to categorise areas and activities according to their perceived epidemiological risk.
While England, Ireland and Denmark are among countries lifting all restrictions, including health passes despite a high number of recorded infections – the current mood among the health ministry and its advisers appears to be against major departures from the current course.
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