Reduction of contagion rate to 0,6%, as well as a low daily number of cases is shown through the daily data received by the Ministry of Health, according to the minister in charge, Michael Hadjipandela, who said on Wednesday thati decrease is also observed in the hospitalizations of patients with Covid 19, which currently stands at 130 people.
Asked about this after the Cabinet meeting, which decided on further relaxations, Hajipandela assured that the Ministry receives the numbers daily, to note that the low numbers and the improvement of the epidemiological picture in Cyprus allowed for further relaxations in the measures.
However, he stressed that "the measures have been suspended and not abolished", to then underline that "in case the self-protection measures are not respected there is a possibility that the good picture we have at the moment may cease to exist".
He expressed the hope that there would not be a new mutation that would change the rafts and necessitate ending this suspension.
He also said that there is a significant reduction in hospitalisations and that there are currently 130 people in hospital, to assure that the Ministry responsible - although it does not announce the numbers daily - nevertheless monitors them properly.
The Health Minister said that "we need to get back to normality and not bombard people every night with the number of cases", specifying, however, that the data are taken and evaluated daily.
He also noted that with the suspension of the safe pass there will be no more sampling points and everyone, regardless of vaccination history, if they want to get tested will go to pharmacies or clinical laboratories for Rapid Test or PCR respectively.
He also clarified that the free tests will apply only to close contacts.
In response to another question, Mr. Hadjipandela said that the test to stay will be abolished in schools, to note that in hospitals it will remain. In relation to the National Guard he said that the Ministry of Defence will decide on this, i.e. whether it will remain or not.
Regarding the images from Shanghai that are seeing the light of day and whether they worry the Ministry of Health, he said that they worry both him and the scientists.
He said that he personally had a conversation on Saturday and Sunday with the EU Health Commissioner, Stella Kyriakidou, who has informed him that there is nothing to worry about, however, he added "it is a situation that we have to monitor constantly and if there is any new mutation that should worry us, we will immediately take action."
In relation to the operation of clinics and wards in public hospitals, he said that they are gradually returning to normalcy, to add that there are a number of patients who are being treated off coronavirus in the clinics, while their surgeries are progressing normally.
Source: CNA
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
