Patience until next Thursday when announcements are expected to be made in relation to relaxation of measures for the pandemic, Health Minister Michael Hadjipandela recommended.
The Health Minister revealed that the two main issues he will discuss at his meeting with the advisory committee next Wednesday are the abolition of the use of masks outdoors and the reduction of tests to bring Cyprus in line with other countries.
The Minister made statements in Limassol after the 14km march organised by the Association of Liver Patients "Prometheus". Asked whether there will be any relaxations since measures are being abolished in other European countries, Hadjipandela said his ministry is following all developments. "I am happy to see many countries in Europe have no measures, but we have to see that in China they have different measures, so these are some situations that we are watching very carefully. I want to mention that the scientists and the advisory committee are studying all the data carefully. We will have a meeting next Wednesday, I am waiting for their recommendations and based on these, the corresponding proposals will go to the Cabinet next Thursday," he said.
Asked whether the abolition of the mask outdoors and the reduction of screening tests carried out in Cyprus are the subject of discussion, the Health Minister admitted that "these are the two most important issues that concern us."
Asked whether the abolition of the mask outdoors and the reduction of screening tests carried out in Cyprus are the subject of discussion, the Health Minister admitted that "these are the two most important issues that concern us. "But I want to mention that we as a country make our decisions based on our own data and not on what other countries are doing. I want to remind you of the lock downs that other countries had and we did not have them, so based on our own data we will make decisions," he said.
He said the data is constantly changing and many times in the past while relaxations were decided, the decision was changed because of epidemiological data. "We have to be patient until Thursday, but know that we will do what is most right for the people," he said."
Regarding the Prometheus Liver Patients Association event, the minister announced his ministry's intention to immediately meet patients' persistent demand for the availability of hepatology specialists. "I hope in 15 days we will announce and meet an important demand of the association that has been asking for it for years. To have hepatologist doctors in Cyprus, which unfortunately at the moment do not exist. I hope that in the next 15 days we will be ready to announce it," he added.
Regarding the event, which involved a march from the archaeological site of Amathus to the old port of Limassol, the Health Minister congratulated the organisers. He said he had the opportunity together with Prometheus, which is an association that helps patients with liver problems, to walk 14 kilometres and give the message that "by doing sports we help to have our health at the same time".
For her part, the President of the Prometheus Association, Giannoula Koulla, stressed that "in order to have good health we need to have a good liver and to get it we need significant help from nutrition and sport". Regarding the Minister's announcement on hepatologists, she said that "it is very important for patients to have the specialist doctors to be able to see us and examine us."
On behalf of the House Health Committee, MP Marina Nikolaou spoke of the right to a dignified life for those who are chronic sufferers with direct access to quality health services.
Source: KYPE
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