Filenews 15 February 2021
The epidemiological situation in Cyprus, focusing on the epidemiological burden in Limassol Province, was at the heart of a meeting under the Minister of Health, Konstantinos Ioannou, with the participation of members of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Coronavirus and the Trace Team of the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit.
According to the data presented by the Tracing Team, it appears that in the last 14 days, there has been a burden on the whole of Limassol Province and not on individual areas of the Province. At the same time in the other Provinces the situation is marginally below safe limits and easily reversible if the necessary attention is not paid.
A significant number of cases in the last 14 days have been recorded in specific workplaces operating in all Provinces, such as pharmaceutical companies, industrial food units, food retailers, retail businesses, etc. At first sight, it appears that health measures and protocols are not being complied with faithfully. As a result, the Health Services of the Ministry of Health and the competent Departments of the Ministry of Labour have intensified on-the-spot checks targeted at these sites in order to intervene in a timely manner, where and where the guidelines are not faithfully applied. During the meeting, instructions were given to check all staff in an operation where case conflicts are detected.
In addition, the Minister of Health was informed of the phenomenon observed with people positive for the virus, who do not declare all their close contacts, or declare themselves unemployed, or hide their workplaces. At the same time, cases of workspaces have been observed whose addresses indicate incomplete data. Please note that failure to register contacts does not achieve the objective of tracing, which is none other than to reduce outbreaks. The incomplete declaration of contacts or even of the workplace where a positive incident is working includes a risk of a new outbreak and, by extension, a burden on the epidemiological situation.
It is also noted that individuals assessed as close contacts are referred by the Tracing Team for PCR tests, in accordance with the protocols of the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit. It is clarified that close contacts undergoing a rapid antigen test with a negative indication are not exempted from PCR testing.
Finally, according to the data, there is an increase in the number of elderly people who tested positive for the virus. It appears that the transmission was carried out intra-family or by persons responsible for their home care. To this end, the obligation of domestic workers or workers responsible for the care of the elderly to be tested with rapid antigen testing on a weekly basis is re-emphasised, with a view to reducing the likelihood of disease or transmission of the virus to the sensitive group of elderly people.
The Ministry of Health calls on citizens to respect the individual precautions reverently and carefully, helping to maintain the improved epidemiological image of Cyprus and preventing a new wave of cases. The epidemiological picture is fragile and can be charged and backtracked at any time.
Source: eyenews
