Filenews 30 July 2021 - by Marilena Panagi
With proposals for even stricter conditions in SafePass, as well as stricter measures applied to nursing homes and other closed structures, Health Minister Michalis Hatzipandelas is today going to the Presidential Palace for the Cabinet meeting.
The poor epidemiological picture of Cyprus rather pushes the Government to tighten up some measures which, among other things, will aim to increase the rate of vaccination coverage in the population of Cyprus, while the increased number of patients with coronavirus in public hospitals seems to play a catalytic role in decision-making by the Ministerial. And the increase in the number of patients in intensive care units, and the record 40 people recorded on Wednesday, has caused great concern to both the health ministry and the State Health Services Agency.
At this stage, the Government does not appear to have any intention of imposing new measures or suspending the operation of certain undertakings. Therefore, and always according to the information that has come to light until yesterday afternoon, the effort to intercept the spread of the virus in Cypriot society will be made, once again, through the provisions of the implementation of SafePass.
According to this information, the intention of the Minister of Health is to put before the Cabinet a proposal, which will make it compulsory to present SafePass in even more places, since it will also be required in places where more than 10 people will be present at the same time, contrary to what is currently in force under the decree in force and provides for a number of 20 people or more.
In addition, and following the identification of crown transmission chains in nursing homes and other closed structures in recent times, the Minister of Health is preparing to present a proposal tightening up the protocol for the operation of these sites even more, while at the same time it is not excluded that a proposal not to accept unvaccinated workers in nursing homes and closed structures will be accepted, and/or they will now be required to provide negative tests every 48 hours, not with a rapid antigen diagnosis test. On the table, until yesterday were other suggestions concerning the tightening of protocols in all hospitals, but also the intensification of controls on SafePass in high-risk areas, such as entertainment businesses and social events (ie weddings and baptisms).
With regard to the possibility of adopting the scientists' recommendation not to end the programme of free tests to the general population but to differentiate it, the Government is probably not willing to decide on this. Therefore, and unless everything changes at today's Cabinet meeting, from Sunday, those citizens who need to undergo a rapid antigen detection test, either for SafePass purposes or for other reasons, should contact the private clinical laboratories and pharmacies that cooperate with the Ministry of Health. Health.
On the part of the scientists, a proposal was put before the Minister Michalis Hatzipantella and a proposal to continue the distance study of students of public and private Universities with the start of the new academic year. This issue, however, may not be discussed today by the Council of Ministers without being excluded from being put on the table by the end of August.
'Yes' to vaccinating children
The green light for vaccination of children aged 12 to 15 was given last night by the scientists, who, however, according to information provided by the 'F', in the written proposal that they are expected to send early this morning to the Minister of Health, Michalis Hatzipantella, will also set out their conditions which will mainly concern the way in which parents and guardians should be informed. , highlighting transparency and detailed information, just as in the case of vaccination of children with other paediatric vaccines. At the same time, scientists will reiterate their position that vaccination of children should not be linked to the operation or closure of schools, and as was emphasised at last night's meeting of the Advisory Scientific Committee attended by representatives of the Paediatric Society of Cyprus, special reference should also be made to the priority that must be given to children belonging to vulnerable groups of the population.
The universal vaccination of children of this age group is also a unanimous decision of the Paediatric Society of Cyprus, which had met earlier in order for its representatives to give a clear opinion at the meeting of the EES. At the meeting of the Scientific Committee, different views were also heard, such as vaccinating children over 15 years of age at this stage or vaccinating only children belonging to vulnerable groups of the population. However, following discussion, it was decided to make a recommendation to start vaccinations in children aged 12 to 15, without it being compulsory and with the signed consent of both parents, as is the case for children aged 16 to 18.
The PROPOSAL of the EES is expected to be presented today by the Minister of Health to the Council of Ministers for a final decision. Michalis Hatzipandelas is expected to present to the Cabinet a proposal concerning the tightening of the conditions for the implementation of the SafePass institution. The intention of the Minister of Health is to put before the Cabinet a proposal, which will make it compulsory to present SafePass in even more places, since it will also be required in places where more than 10 people will be present at the same time.
Six children in Makarios
Six children with coronavirus are currently being treated at Macarios Hospital, three of whom will be discharged and three will remain, said The Director of the Paediatric Department Dr. Abraham Elias, noting that the three who will remain are a one-month-old boy and two girls, 7 and 15 years old, who are out of danger, with good health.
He noted that Makarios has had an average hospitalization of about six children in the last three weeks, during which the number of cases is high.
"Let us hope that by reducing the number of cases, the need for hospitalisation in the child population will be reduced," he said. Dr Elias said that of the 130 children who had to be hospitalised in Makarios, only three children had to be given oxygen at low concentrations. He explained that in adults respiratory infection is the dominant manifestation, unlike children that is rarely done. He reported that children with COVID have high fever, sluggishness, anorexia, gastrointestinal disorders, dehydration, coughing, etc. He said infants are mainly infected by the immediate family environment, which is why adults need to be more responsible by getting vaccinated.
Asked about the need for vaccination in children, Dr Elias said his personal view is to vaccinate children over the age of 12, a tactic followed by many countries such as the USA, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and recently Greece.
"Teenagers can easily transmit the virus, as can adults, and children need to get back to school and run the school seamlessly," he added.
The Covid-19 ward in Paphos and the third ICU opened at the Nicosia hospital
As the Government prepares to make new decisions, public hospitals are still fighting their own battle against the pandemic, as the number of hospitalized patients remains high every day.
Yesterday, the Agency of State Health Services announced that "in the context of the implementation of the Action Plan to tackle the pandemic and given the current epidemiological picture, the Agency is proceeding to develop another 22 beds for patients with COVID-19, at Paphos General Hospital". The beds, according to the announcement, "will be available from tomorrow (today) morning and if necessary a further 22 beds (total of 44) will be developed next Tuesday".
According to the Communication, "since the beginning of the pandemic, the Agency has been drawing up, implementing and adapting the Action Plan on the basis of the statistical data it records and analyses every day, with the aim of providing patients with the best service". At the same time, the Third Intensive Care Unit, which was created for the needs of the pandemic, was reopened at the Nicosia hospital.
Yesterday, the youngest intubated patient was only 26 years old and an increasing trend is still being recorded in the number of elderly patients admitted to hospital in public hospitals.
In a statement, OKY spokesman Charalambos Charilaou said that "despite the difficulties that exist, the situation is manageable. We open beds there and where necessary and when necessary, so that there is no patient, without proper medical assistance."
Responding to a question about the assessment of patients who have been waiting in their homes lately due to the absence of their personal doctors on holiday, Mr Charilaou said that "after superhuman efforts made in recent days it has become possible to serve everyone".
Asked how many beds are still available, he replied that "there are several", assuring that "there is no issue of beds based on the design that exists". He again appealed to the public to proceed with vaccination, because as he said 'only by vaccination and compliance with protection measures will we get out of the difficult situation'.
