MOH LAUNCHES TESTING OF 20,000 WORKERS IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS

in-cyprus 10 April 2020 -ByJosephine Koumettou

The Ministry of Health announced on Friday the launch of sample-taking from 20,000 workers in the public and private sectors, and calls on those who fall within the categories announced to reach out to one of the approved labs to arrange an appointment should they wish to take the test.

The tests will be conducted in a time frame of 20 days across the island in collaboration with private labs (a list can be found below).

Eligible for the tests are citizens residing in the Republic who are still working and therefore have increased chances of being exposed to the virus. Indicatively, the scheme concerns:

-workers in the public and wider public sectors and local administration, prioritising authorities that provide services to the public

-members of the National Guard

-members of the Police

-members of the Fire Service, and

-workers in the private sector with priority to businesses providing services to the public (ex. banks, post offices, gas stations) and food and drink retail businesses (ex. supermarkets, kiosks, bakeries etc)

The Health Ministry advises that on the day of their appointment, beneficiaries should present proof verifying their job position, like a signed confirmation from the employer.

The allocation of the 20,000 per district was based on the epidemiological data and demographic data of the Statistical Service to ensure an even distribution of tests.

Based on the labs’ agreement with the Health Ministry, participating labs will communicate the results to the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit within 48 hours from the time of sample-taking, prioritising positive results so that tracing of contacts can begin imminently.

The labs chosen so far who meet the requirements to conduct tests using the Real-Time PCR method are as follows:

LABS	SAMPLE-TAKING LOCATIONS
	Nicosia	Limassol	Larnaca	Paphos
ACT BIO	Outdoors: 5 Demophontos Str, Nicosia 1075 Τ: 22747374
American Medical Center	AMC – 215 Spyrou Kyprianou Ave, Nicosia 2047. T:22476649	AMC – 2 Christodoulou Papadaki, Limassol 3022 T: 25859359
Cyprus Institute of Neurology  &  Genetics (in collaboration with SynLab Ltd)	Outdoors, outside Makario / Eleftheria stadium Τ: 22751333	Outdoors, outside indoor swimming pool near Tsireio stadium T: 22751333	Outdoor area of Kitio Sports centre T: 22751333	Outdoor area of Stelios Kyriakides stadium (ex Pafiako) Τ:22751333
MEDIFOS	Lab’s basement, 8 October 28 street, Nicosia 2414 Τ: 22 760943
NIPD Genetics	NIPD Genetics HQ, 31 Neas Engomis str, Nicosia 2409, Τ: 22267899	German Oncology Centre, 1 Nikis Ave, Ayios Athanasios Τ: 22267899	Analysis Lab, 23 Arch. Makarios III, Aradippou 7104 Τ: 99159492	District Officer’s residence, Griva Digheni & Neophytou Nicolaidi Τ: 22267899
	GSP stadium car park	Pavlides Labs, 38 Gladstonos, Limassol 3041 Τ: 77 77 05 07	New GSZ stadium car park	Pavlides Labs, 134 Ayiou Stephanou, Empa 8052, Paphos Τ: 77 77 05 07
Yiannouka Lab – Vioiatriki Group	59 Ifigenias, Nicosia 2003 Τ: 96909011	236 Ayias Fylaxeos Τ: 96909011
Bioanalysis Clinical Labs (Limassol), Tymvios Clinical Labs (Nicosia) and PZ Agapiou Diagnostics	Outdoors (drive-through) 1. Central Lab, 12 Kritis Str Τ: 22762213 2. Dali blood centre Τ: 22762213 3. Makedonitissa blood centre Τ: 22762213	Outdoors (drive-through) 1. 23C Spyrou Kyprianou Ave, 4001 Mesa Geitonia Τ: 25726252 2. 9 Sofias Tsirou Str,Toulla Court 3 , Limassol 3021 Τ: 25381373 3. 45 Grigori Afxendiou, Polemidia Τ: 25381373 4. 3 Arch. Makariou, Kakopetria Τ: 25381373