The pandemic considerations everybody and with greater than three thousand circumstances per day in our small inhabitants, it means COVID is threatening every considered one of us, stated Well being Minister Michalis Hadjipantela asserting the brand new measures determined in a unprecedented session of the cupboard on Wednesday night.
The epidemiological indicators within the final days current a speedy deterioration with the likelihood that hospitalisations will improve in state hospitals within the subsequent few days, the Minister instructed reporters after his ministry introduced that new infections shot to 3002 on Wednesday, surpassing each report since COVID appeared.
The minister stated the positivity price is above 2.5% and solely within the final three days, 7,168 new circumstances have been recorded inside the group. “Omicron mutation is now properly locally and is anticipated to additional burden the epidemiological state of affairs”, he added.
Hadjipantela criticised the shortage of non-public protecting measures and lack of measures at institutions for the spike in latest days. “Sadly, information point out that many voters don’t adhere to private protecting measures whereas dozens of institutions and nightclubs don’t observe well being protocols leading to elevated overcrowding”.
He stated the members of the Scientific Advisory Committee agreed to evaluate the state of affairs subsequent Tuesday, relying on the end result of the epidemiological indicators.
For that reason, the Cupboard, he stated, throughout its extraordinary assembly, determined to tighten measures within the nation’s on the republic’s entry, abolish protected cross to all those that haven’t accomplished their vaccination regime and take extra measures to restrict transmission in areas the place persons are crowding.
With impact from 4 January to fifteen January 2022, passengers arriving on the Republic of Cyprus are required to have carried out a laboratory PCR take a look at 48 hours earlier than their departure. No matter their vaccination historical past, all passengers will endure a PCR laboratory take a look at and the associated fee shall be borne by the passenger.
From January 3, 2022, teleworking shall be utilized for 40% of the workers of every firm or group within the service sector. Additional info shall be supplied on Thursday relating to important companies to be exempted.
From 30th December 2021, entrance to nightclubs, music and dance golf equipment, banquet venues, weddings, christenings shall be allowed solely upon presentation of a 24-hour Speedy Take a look at. Entry is allowed solely to vaccinated individuals. Residents who acquired the booster/third dose of vaccine are excluded from this requirement.
As well as, from 30 December 2021, there shall be a most restrict of 300 individuals for eating places, nightclubs, and music and dance golf equipment in compliance with well being protocols. Individuals ought to be seated whereas dancing is prohibited. It’s clarified that the measure for weddings and baptisms shall be applied from January 3, 2022.
From 30 December 2021, the presence of followers in stadiums is ready at 50% of the stadium capability with the necessary use of protecting masks.
Additionally from 30 December 2021, visits are prohibited at state and personal hospitals in addition to closed amenities, until approval is supplied by the administration after the presentation of a destructive laboratory PCR take a look at with a 24-hour validity and just for pressing and distinctive circumstances. Visits to outpatient departments are allowed to sufferers and escorts with a destructive speedy take a look at within the final 24 hours. People who acquired a booster/third dose of the COVID vaccine are excluded.
The cupboard additionally determined that from December 30, 2021, there shall be a change in COVID-19 case administration protocols and shut contacts for healthcare professionals who haven’t acquired any of the vaccination doses or acquired two doses or one dose of the single-dose vaccine and the seven month interval has elapsed and they didn’t obtain the booster/third dose.
Shut contacts of a confirmed case shall be subjected on the fifth day to endure a PCR and on the sixth day a Speedy take a look at with a destructive end result after contact with a case to be allowed to return out of isolation. Optimistic coronavirus circumstances can endure a Speedy take a look at on the sixth and seventh day and if the result’s destructive, they need to be launched on the eighth day, supplied that they don’t present signs for 48 hours.
The minister additionally stated that the cupboard recommends that residents use double surgical masks or excessive safety masks (KN95 or sort FFP2) and keep away from the usage of a material protecting face masks.
Using the protecting masks is necessary in all areas.
Concluding, the minister stated “we should perceive that it’s important to keep up the measures to guard ourselves. Solely this fashion we can return to normality the soonest”.