Filenews 29 March 2021
"Step by step, slowly and gradually the relaxes will take place," the member of the epidemiological team, Professor of Microbiology Petros Karagiannis, told RIK television, adding that the epidemiological team is cautious because of the number of cases announced daily.
"We know that in the Limassol region there is a mutant British strain that is transmitted much more easily," said Mr Karagiannis, noting that the third factor forcing the epidemiological team to follow this line of relaxations is the hospitalization of people at a young age with more severe symptomatology.
For the opening of the gymnasium and the return of students with physical presence, Mr Karagiannis recommended caution. As he said it is preferable to open on April 5 to give students time to do the rapid tests.
Speaking earlier on RIK radio, professor of paediatrics and infectious diseases, Maria Koliou, said that the epidemiological team recommends to President Anastasiades the opening of high schools as well as a number of other conservative groups in the expression of relaxations.
Mrs . Koliu said the epidemiological team came up with a majority in a series of recommendations to the government, which are based on the current epidemiological situation. Everyone's common position, he said, was that conservative policy should be pursued in the first half of April.
In view of Easter, the epidemiological picture has not changed and explained that this week there are trends of improvement in Cyprus and Limassol, but the reduction in cases is not yet stable.
He also said that as far as high schools are concerned, all members of the group agreed that students should return to their classrooms provided that systematic testing continues with quick tests. There is no, he added, suggestion of scientists for any differentiation in the field of catering, and there are suggestions concerning gyms.
Before the Cabinet on Wednesday the new relaxes
The scientific team last night examined epidemiological data to formulate its recommendations for possible easing of the restrictive measures, which will be put before the Cabinet on Wednesday.
The current decree expires on 31 March and the government's intention is to give small relaxes from 1 April.
Source: eyenews / RIK
