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By extending the existing measures and introducing only three new ones, which in essence do not constitute a tightening, Cyprus continues its "battle" with the pandemic and with the highly contagious Omicron strain that has raised the daily number of cases by thousands in recent times.
Scientists believe that at this stage, any tightening, which would have been aimed at limiting movements, was not necessary at a time when there is an increase in epidemiological indicators in general, but a stabilisation, especially in recent days and after the festive period.
The attention, of course, remains focused in two directions. The hospitals and the schools.
"The hospitals of the National Health Service are working tirelessly to respond to the increased number of hospitalizations, a fact that we take seriously, since the protection of public health is a key factor in all our decisions," Health Minister Michael Hadjipandela said yesterday in announcing three new measures.
"With a positive rate consistently above 3% and with over 28 thousand cases since the last Cabinet meeting, the hospitals of the OCYPY are working tirelessly to respond to the increased number of hospitalizations, which we take seriously, since the protection of public health is a key factor in every decision we make," he said."
As far as schools are concerned, the big target remains. To continue their uninterrupted operation with a physical presence. This was the reason for the decision to introduce the Test to Stay measure to ensure the presence of students in the classrooms, provided of course that they are found to be covid negative when they are reported as contacts.
Details of the Cabinet decisions that come into force One from today
(a) from 17 January to 16 February 2022, the inclusion of the Test to Stay measure in primary and secondary education, with the aim of keeping schools open and detecting positive cases of covid in time. Close contacts of confirmed cases who have no history of vaccination, instead of being placed on restriction, will be subjected to daily antigen detection rapid test (rapid test) for a period of 5 days. This decision applies only to students.
(b) from 13 January 2022, the lifting of the ban on visits to nursing homes and closed facilities, with entry to these places being permitted only to persons who have completed their vaccination programme and the 7-month period has not elapsed, or hold a certificate of infection and the 90-day period has not elapsed, or have received the booster/3rd dose, provided that they present a negative Rapid test of the same day.
(c) as of January 14 at 5:00 a.m, either a 72-hour PCR laboratory test or a 24-hour Rapid test is acceptable for travel purposes to the Republic of Cyprus. In addition, in the case of positive cases, at least 10 days must have elapsed from the date of sampling of a positive result in order to travel to the Republic of Cyprus. It is recalled that until 31 January 2022, all passengers over 12 years of age will have to undergo a PCR laboratory test upon arrival at airports in the Republic of Cyprus and, 72 hours after arrival, a Rapid test, with the exception of those who have received the booster/3rd dose of vaccine.
(d) the extension of all existing measures until 31 January 2022.
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Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
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