Filenews 22 December 2021
Clarifications on the decisions of the Council of Ministers to contain the COVID-19 disease are given by the Ministry of Health.
As stated:
(a) Reopening of school units after the Christmas holidays on 10 January. On the return, all students, teachers and other staff without exception will have to present a negative rapid antigen test for Rapid antigen testing lasting 48 hours.
- The decision includes everyone without exception, regardless of vaccination history, as well as people who hold a certificate of illness with COVID-19.
- The test for the specific day will be carried out by presenting in printed form or in a text message the result of the Rapid test.
(b) As of December 22, 2021, all employees who have completed their vaccination program against Covid-19 with the two doses for two dose vaccines and one dose for a single-dose vaccine, or hold a certificate of disease (duration of 180 days) are required to present a negative rapid antigen rapid test test with a duration of 7 days for their entry into their workplace.
- It is emphasized that employees have 7 days to proceed to a rapid antigen detection test or rapid antigen detection test.
- Each organization, company, company, company, may set a specific day on which the employees will be checked for the weekly Rapid test.
- Workers who received the booster/3rd vaccine dose are excluded.
- For vaccinated persons or people who have contracted COVID-19, the Rapid Test is provided free of charge, as well as for people who received at least one dose of vaccine and the period required to receive the 2nd dose has not passed.
- It is clarified that if a chain of transmission is recorded in a workplace, all employees will be subjected to an examination without exception.
- Checks by the competent authorities will start from 29 December.
(c) From 22 December 2021, in view of the Christmas holidays, it is recommended that all citizens, prior to their visit to homes, have carried out rapid antigen rapid antigen tests with a negative result. Rapid antigen tests lasting 48 hours are recommended for people who have not received at least one dose of the vaccine, while people who have received at least two doses of vaccine may instead of Rapid test to conduct self test .
- It is recommended to perform a self-test on people who received the booster/3rd dose of vaccine.
- In case of a positive result through a self-test, citizens should contact their Personal Doctor, to refer them for PCR examination to the Public Health Clinics of their province of residence.
- Citizens who are not beneficiaries of the GHS, in case of a positive result, should contact the Coordination Center of Public Health Clinics in the email coordination.iatreiadygeias@moh.gov.cy by sending their identification details (name, surname, phone number, id number, date of birth and province), as well as a photo of their positive self-test.
- It is recalled that the presence in homes is allowed with a maximum of 20 people, including permanent residents and minors.
(d) the reduction of the time period of the covid-19 disease certificate from 6 months (180 days) to 3 months (90 days) with effect from 31 January 2022.
- An announcement will follow in the coming days.
(e) From 22 December 2021 until 6 January 2022, in view of the Christmas holidays, children aged 12-17 years who have not received any dose of the vaccine will be able to come to restaurants (including dining areas in shopping malls and hotels), in theatres, amphitheatres, cinemas, theatres, theatres, indoor and outdoor courts, weddings and christenings upon presentation of a rapid rapid antigen rapid antigen test a 72-hour test, provided that they are accompanied by a parent/guardian who has completed his/her vaccination program (at least two doses for two dose vaccines and at least one dose for a single-dose vaccine).
- It is clarified that children 12-17 years old who are accompanied by parents who have completed the vaccination program but have elapsed the period of 7 months and have not received a booster / 3rd dose of the vaccine will be able to come to these places with laboratory examination.
- It is recalled that the Safe Pass demonstration is required in places where it is possible based on capacity to congregate more than 10 persons, including employees.
- Children aged 6-11 years are excluded, provided that they possess SafePass (negative rapid test with a duration of 7 days) while for children under 6 years of age there is no restriction.
- People who have completed their vaccination regimen are exempt from the prerequisite that people who have completed their vaccination regimen possess a negative result of a PCR test or a rapid test.
- People who received the booster/3rd vaccine dose are exempt from the prerequisite that people who received the booster/3rd dose of vaccine possess a negative result of a PCR test or rapid test.
- People who have contracted Covid-19 within the last 6 months are exempt from the prerequisite to possess a negative result of a PCR laboratory test or rapid antigen test (rapid test).
- In all other areas not mentioned above, the existing provisions continue to apply based on the decrees.
(f) For visitors and employees in day care facilities for vulnerable groups and day centers that are co-located in the same premises with nursing homes and other closed care and accommodation facilities for the elderly and vulnerable groups, the same measures apply that are in force in nursing homes and closed structures following the instructions of the Ministry of Health and the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare.
- For persons aged 6 to 11 years, it is required to show a negative test with sampling having been carried out within 7 days or a certificate of recovery from the COVID-19 disease, and for persons aged 12 years and over, the demonstration of a negative test within 72 hours, either a certificate of a complete vaccination regimen, or a certificate of recovery from the COVID-19 disease lasting 180 days.
