Filenews 13 March 2021
New measures announced today Ministry of Health with milestone implementation of some, exclusively for March 15th (Clean Monday), but also March 16th with the long-awaited opening of the catering sector. As part of the partial lifting of the restrictive measures, the Ministry of Health answers 14 frequently asked questions from the public about new measures concerning focus, travel, services, etc.
See in detail
A. Movements:
1. What times does the travel ban apply?
The travel ban is still in effect from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day.
2. Why is travel allowed during curfew hours (11 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day)?
The movement of persons during curfew hours shall continue to be permitted for the following reasons:
- for work purposes to and from the workplace with the presentation of Form A, completed and signed by the employer and certifying the need to travel during the above hours.
- for the purposes of urgent need, i.e. to go to a medical centre or hospital or pharmacy or veterinarian for medical emergencies and to go to provide emergency assistance to persons who are unable to self-serve or who need to self-protect themselves.
3. How many times per day will exceptional travel be allowed?
Exceptional travel will be allowed twice a day by sending a text message to 8998 in the cases listed on Form B. Persons over the age of 65 may use Form B twice a day for their exceptional movements. There are nine (9) categories for exceptional travel by sending SMS.
It is clarified that for the purpose of going to and from work for work purposes no texting is required, but the employee must present Form A, signed by his employer.
In addition, for the purposes of transporting a minor or disabled person to school or to a Day Care Centre, it is not necessary to send a text message from parents/legal guardians.
4. What changes in the other categories for using SMS from 15 March?
To switch to a dining room (outdoors only), a text message is sent by selecting the number 2.
Category 6 is amended and, in addition to travel for sports and individual training purposes, includes movement for access to public gathering places, i.e. squares. To go to excursion sites and dams, where access will only be allowed on 15 March, a message is sent to number 6.
All other Categories remain the same.
5. Is it permissible to move between the Provinces?
Yes, movement between provinces is permitted provided that the purpose for which the movement takes place falls within the Categories of SMS usage which normally does not exceed three (3) hours.
B. Social gatherings:
6. Is access to squares allowed?
Access to squares is allowed from 15 March for gatherings with a maximum number of 6 people, regardless of age, as long as a text message is sent to 8998 with a choice of number 6 and the reasonable period of three (3) hours is respected.
7. What is the maximum number of people allowed to congregate in public gathering places (parks, linear parks, beaches, nature trails, squares)?
The maximum number of people allowed to congregate in parks, linear parks, beaches, nature trails and squares is set at 6 persons, regardless of age.
It is understood that persons aged 12 years and over who congregate in the above areas from different households must wear a protective mask.
8. Is access to excursion sites and dams allowed?
Access to excursion sites and dams is only allowed for Monday, March 15, 2021. The maximum number of people who can congregate in excursion areas and dams on 15 March is 6 adults and in addition their minor children.
C. Dining areas:
9. Is the dining areas allowed to operate?
From 16 March, only the external areas of the catering premises may be operated, in subject to the health protocol and the guidelines.
The above decision applies only to the following categories of dining areas:
- Restaurants
- Hotels and tourist accommodation
- Taverns
- Cafes
- Pizzerias
- Beers, snack bars and bars
- Canteens and/or dining areas of schools, sports groups, cultural groups, clubs, clubs, etc.
It is recalled that the service of the public is done exclusively in table seats. If the above companies operate bars, it is forbidden to serve the citizens directly to them and the use only for the preparation of food and drinks by the staff of the premises.
10. What is the maximum number of people outdoors in the dining areas?
No maximum number of people is specified in the outdoor areas of the catering premises. The number of persons shall, on a case-by-case basis, be determined on the basis of the square metres of each premises and shall be subject to the distance measure as specified in the relevant Protocol.
11. What is the maximum number of people per table?
The maximum number of people per table in the dining areas (outdoor areas of the premises) is 8 persons, regardless of age.
D. Business/Services:
12. How will private service undertakings operate?
Private service undertakings (e.g. law firms, accounting firms, insurance companies, service undertakings, etc.), with the exception of the essential services specified in the Decree, work remotely. The physical presence of workers not exceeding 30% of the total number of staff with a minimum presence of five (5) persons shall be permitted within the professional premises, if the employer so wishes.
It is understood that if an undertaking operates in more than one building, the physical presence of workers not exceeding 30% of each premises is permitted, with a minimum presence of five (5) persons, if the employer so wishes.
For undertakings located in the same building, the physical presence of workers not exceeding 30% of each legal person (i.e. each undertaking) is permitted, with a minimum presence of five (5) persons, if the employer so wishes, provided that the health protocols are complied with.
The rest of the staff work through teleworking at home. It is understood that the number is rounded up.
E. Rapid tests:
13. Who should undergo a rapid antigen test?
All workers re-operating in companies/sectors reopening from 16 March must undergo a rapid antigen test before returning to their workplace, either free of charge through the Ministry of Health programme or privately at their own expense.
In addition, workers in enterprises/sectors are required to undergo a weekly rapid antigen test as specified in question 14.
14. How long does the rapid test result have? Should it be repeated by employees?
The result of the rapid test has a time validity of seven (7) days, unless in the meantime the person develops symptoms or is classified as contact and the protocol setting up an Epidemiological Surveillance Unit should be followed.
The employer/enterprise shall be responsible for coordinating a resumption of employee control so that at any time and on a weekly basis they have a rapid test in place as specified below:
- Enterprises/services employing up to 3 people, the audit should be carried out on all employees.
- Enterprises/services employing between 4 and 10 persons should be checked on at least 4 employees.
- Enterprises/services employing more than 10 people should be checked on at least 5 persons or 30% of employees, whichever is greater in number.
Source: eyenews
