in-cyprus 24 March 2020 - Bouli Hadjioannou
Five public health centres or clinics are in full operation since Monday to examine individuals who exhibit flu symptoms but are unsure if they have contracted coronavirus.
Health Ministry press officer, Margarita Kyriakou told CNA that from Monday, people have been visiting the clinics which opened last week.
For the time being, she said, each district has a clinic, however if the needs increase, then a second clinic will operate in each district.
In Nicosia and Larnaca, the Clinics are open from 08:00-20:00, while in Limassol and Paphos from 08:00-14:00.
The Ministry aims to have more of these clinics in each district, she said.
Kyriakou said that the clinics will operate by appointment if one has flu symptoms but it is unclear whether it is coronavirus or not.
She said that a person with flu symptoms who has not travelled or came into contact with a confirmed case, should telephone his/her General Practitioner who will determine whether the patient should be referred to a Clinic
Describing the procedure, she said the GP will speak to the patient on the phone and if necessary, examine the patient at his/her office and if the GP believes the case requires further investigation for coronavirus or Α (Η1Ν1) the GP will contact 1420 and make an appointment for the patient.
The patient will then go to the Clinic, examined on site and if necessary, be tested for the coronavirus. The test will be sent to the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics until more laboratories perform the test.
The Clinics are staffed by doctors of the Pancyprian Doctors’ Association and nurses.
(Cyprus News Agency)
