Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas was emphatic in explaining the rationale behind the decision to take additional measures at the gates of entry to the Republic of Cyprus.
Speaking on Alpha Update, Michalis Hadjipantelas first said that the new measures were taken following a unanimous decision with the Epidemiological Team.
Referring to the measure affecting travellers entering the country by showing a negative PCR 48 hours before travel and conducting PCR and on arrival at the airport, the minister said the measure came after symptomatic cases were detected at airports.
Specifically he said "We wanted to take additional measures to check the gates of entry to the Republic because unfortunately a number of people were getting on planes when they were positive. We gave everyone the opportunity to return to Cyprus to have their holidays. Some people took advantage of it. Two days ago we had about 70 people who were positive and travelled" he noted.
When, he said, experts did a PCR analysis of the cases detected at airports, it was clear that these were people who while having symptoms boarded the aircraft.
"This is unacceptable. So what were we supposed to do? Continue to have five or ten people positive on the aircraft and transmit to the rest? It would be irresponsible of the government not to take action. The reason we took this measure for additional PCR before they traveled was to stop these opportunists who took advantage of our sensitivity to let them come and vacation in their country and spread the virus. One of the reasons we had this outbreak was this. It is irresponsible to do this."
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