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By Nicholas Peter Kaparti
Confusion has ensued following reports that workers in nursing homes and closed structures, who are positive for the virus can go to their workplaces as normal, based on a special protocol from the Ministry of Health.
The existence of this special arrangement was brought to light by an article in the newspaper "Politis", on the occasion of information reaching the police that workers in nursing homes and closed structures go positive to their workplaces.
In our communication with Police spokesman Christos Andreou, we were told that "in the context of evaluating information about workers who are cases and who normally go to a particular nursing home in Nicosia, which is their workplace, it was found that special permission is given for specific cases by the Ministry of Health".
Speaking to the Cyprus[/B] Times[/B] on the issue, the Health Minister's Communications Adviser, Constantinos Athanasiou, clarified that this protocol has been in place since the start of the pandemic and is only applied in exceptional cases where staffing is insufficient. He stressed that these staff will only be able to treat and have contact with positive cases
[/P]According to Athanasiou, this authorisation has only been granted to three nursing homes so far.
The... notorious protocol
Mr Athanasiou's reports are confirmed by the protocol obtained by the Cyprus Times. Indeed, as you can see in this extract of the protocol, if permission is granted, under strict conditions, staff members who are positive for the virus cannot have contact with other people, except with elderly people residing in the nursing home who are also positive for the virus, and it is also specified that these employees remain socially isolated.
See relevant excerpt from the protocol:
"-Although it would be ideal to replace all staff with new staff it is not always feasible, as residents typically need ongoing and specialized care and since staff have already been exposed and are considered close contacts, these staff members will be on 14-day self-confinement.
-They will be able to return to work at the end of 10 days and with a negative test. If staff numbers allow, they may also be divided into separate groups that will have no contact with each other.
-If staff numbers are insufficient, positive cases from staff may return to work UNDER CER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES and to treat ONLY positive cases. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES may not have contact with other persons. Provided they have been symptom-free for at least 3 days and after mutual agreement between the institution and the case. It is understood that socially the case remains in self-isolation."
In addition, it is worth mentioning that this permission can only be given to competent staff working in nursing homes or closed structures and not to owners or managers. Therefore, this is why a fine of 8 thousand euros was imposed on the head of the nursing home who broke the quarantine, while positive for coronavirus, and went to work as normal.
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