Filenews 1 March 2021
Cyprus is entering the next phase of the strategy of phasing out restrictive measures from today, following the decisions taken by the Council of Ministers on 25 February. The epidemiological situation, although improved, remains at a marginal point, which can easily deteriorate. The primary objective is, through the adoption of a series of actions, to keep epidemiological indicators at a constant point until vaccination coverage of a significant proportion of the population is achieved in the coming weeks.
In detail, the actions taken in the week 22-28 February 2021, by the Ministry of Health, on the basis of the triptych "test - surveillance - vaccinations":
1. 'Test' pillar:
The main pillar, on which the policy of Cyprus has been based since the beginning of the pandemic, is the conduct of massive tests, applying from time to time laboratory testing programmes aimed at different population groups. Since November 2020, antigen rapid tests, which are used both for the control of the general population and for the regular control of workers, are also a key tool for controlling and limiting the transmission of the virus in the community, as part of the strategy to gradually de-escalation of restrictive measures.
According to recent data (week 7) published by ECDC, Cyprus remains in 1st place among European states in testing, with 24,196 tests per 100,000 population. In the margins of the practice followed by Cyprus, 229,743 rapid tests were carried out through the Ministry of Health programme in the week of 22-28 February, resulting in 809 cases with a positivity rate of 0.35%.
Mass testing, in addition to early detection of cases to reduce the possibility of spreading the virus in the community, contributes to the control of the more aggressive transmission of the virus caused by virus mutations now detected in European states, including Cyprus, causing strong concern at pan-European level.
The rapid and real-time diagnosis offered by rapid antigenic tests, contribute to the immediate start of tracing their close contacts. Having detected case conflicts in specific areas of the country, as well as in professional settings, the Ministry of Health over the past two weeks has extended case tracing to secondary contacts in an effort to detect cases more quickly and prevent greater spread of the virus.
2. 'Surveillance' pillar:
A key factor in a successful return to normality is the monitoring of the correct implementation of the measures, so that they are as effective as possible.
In order to monitor compliance with and compliance with the measures, but also to assist in their better implementation, the Health Services of the Ministry of Health, within the framework of their responsibilities, carry out continuous checks on enterprises. In this context, checks were carried out on 1,160 undertakings in the period 22-26 February and 4,531 employees were audited. During the checks, no non-compliance with the provisions of the Decrees was found and no out-of-court fines were issued.
In detail, 141 barbershops/hairdressers and 206 employees in these enterprises, 51 beauty salons and 86 employees, 181 supermarkets/grocery stores and 1,318 employees, 157 kiosks and 358 employees and 630 food companies and 2,563 employees were checked.
3. Pillar 'Vaccinations':
Continuing the implementation of the objectives of the National Vaccination Plan for COVID-19, a total of 20,152 vaccinations were carried out in the week 22-28 February 2021, bringing the number of vaccinations carried out so far in Cyprus to 78,642 (1st dose: 55,762 and 2nd dose: 22,880).
Vaccination coverage of the population continued last week with the age group of 71 and over, while vaccination of health professionals and specific patients in vulnerable groups is ongoing.
According to data published on the OurWorldInData website, Cyprus ranks 3rd among European Union countries in the administration of at least one dose of vaccine, with an average of 8.7 doses per 100 people (data up to 26 February).
It is recalled that vaccinations are currently carried out in 11 Vaccination Centres in Cyprus, out of a total of 26 workshops. In addition, vaccinations are carried out by six mobile units in Cyprus. In full development of the Vaccination Centre, up to 15,000 vaccinations can be performed daily. So far, three vaccines, Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca and Moderna, have been evaluated and licensed by the European Medicines Agency. An application for authorisation has been submitted to EMA and Johnson&Johnson, which is expected to be evaluated in the coming days.
Source: eyenews
