Filenews 13 December 2021
New measures aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus, following the advent of the "Omikron" mutation in Cyprus, the government announced today.
According to the Minister of Health Michalis Hadjipandelas, today the Council of Ministers decided the following:
(a) as of December 16, 2021, vaccination against Covid-19 of children aged 5-11 years, with vaccinations carried out in Maternity Protection and Child Welfare Centres of the Ministry of Health in all provinces.
(b) from 15 December 2021 until 15 January 2022, vaccinated persons who were declared as close contacts of a confirmed positive case are required to undergo rapid antigen detection tests within 72 hours and on the 7th day a PCR laboratory test free of charge through public health clinics. Individuals who received the booster/3rd vaccine dose are excluded.
(c) from 15 December 2021, the mandatory restriction of persons whose sequencing test of their positive samples concerns the Omikron strain or any possible future mutation, in places designated by the Ministry of Health. It is understood that the contacts of these cases are obliged to remain in self-isolation, regardless of vaccination coverage, following the protocol of the Ministry of Health
(d) the review on January 15, 2022 of the previous decision of the Council of Ministers to abolish SafePass in those individuals who do not receive the booster/3rd dose of a vaccine against Covid-19 after the lapse of 6+1 months. It is clarified that for people who have elapsed a period of 7 months from the second dose of vaccination for the two-dose vaccines and for the single-dose vaccine, for Safe Pass purposes they should undergo a 72-hour PCR laboratory test and a 48-hour rapid antigen detection test.
(e) as of December 15, 2021, the exemption from the mandatory SafePass possession check through the CovScan Cyprus application of people who are proven and following a decision of the Medical Council are not recommended to be vaccinated. These individuals should present the special card issued to them by the Ministry of Health and at the same time a rapid laboratory test or PCR test on a weekly basis with a negative result
(f) from 15 December 2021 until 31 January 2022, admission to social events, such as weddings, christenings and dining areas within the hotel units, to be allowed only to persons who have received at least one dose of the vaccine on condition that they possess a negative result of a laboratory PCR test or a Rapid Antigen Rapid Test. The previous decision of the Council of Ministers also applies to the following areas: indoor and outdoor stadiums, theatres, cinemas, entertainment halls, music and dance centres, nightclubs and restaurants.
(g) cancellation unless the health protocols of christmas events organized by companies, organizations and associations indoors and outdoors are followed.
(h) as of December 15, 2021, passengers arriving in the Republic of Cyprus are required to undergo a Rapid Test rapid antigen detection test after 72 hours from the day of their arrival. The rapid antigen detection test will be provided to them free of charge through the sampling points of the Ministry of Health, presenting the boarding pass and proof of identification (ID card, passport). Individuals who received the booster/3rd dose of vaccine are excluded.
(i) from 15 December 2021, the reduction of the time period to 5 months and two weeks instead of 6 months, for the administration of the booster/3rd dose of vaccine
We lost fellow human beings who refused the help of the hospitals
Before announcing the government's measures, Mr. Chatzipandelas stressed that the whole of humanity is in a constant "war" with a deadly virus, which changes faces, which mutates, which adapts, which is transmitted more quickly, and which in some cases strikes instantaneously and creates serious long-term problems in vital organs.
"The Covid-19 disease has become the cause of the death of more than 5,310,000 people around the world! Unfortunately, last week, in Cyprus, we lost to this disease, our fellow human beings who could have been saved, who basically refused the help of our doctors and hospitals; which is inconceivable, which cannot be accepted. The acceptance of science has been and remains a key component of humanity's progress for centuries," the Minister said.
"We often say that health is the most precious commodity for humans. But life itself is the supreme good! In the "war" against the pandemic, we are responsible for what happens to us, but we cannot behave so selfishly, so frivolously. Have we ever thought about how painful these behaviours can be for our family, for our relatives, for our friends? The entire scientific community around the world has been ringing the alarm bell for several months. In this state of emergency, faithful implementation of the measures proposed by experts, and vaccination considered the most powerful weapon of science, is not a matter of individual choice. We cannot be indifferent to the protection of those around us, but also to the grief we may cause to our loved ones," he added.
"There is no other way"
"Last week I was at the meeting of the health ministers of the countries of the European Union; there is no other way. The end of the coronavirus will come ONLY if we faithfully follow the instructions of experts. Anything else is considered dangerous. Two years after the beginning of the pandemic, we have advanced as a science, we have acquired knowledge and data, we have developed weapons to deal with this unprecedented phenomenon. From the very first moment that vaccines began to be administered worldwide, we now see with irrefutable evidence that they are effective against the spread and serious disease, and the loss of life. I take as a glaring example Israel, where hospitalizations are kept at very low levels due to the country's very good vaccination program for the third dose, and the participation of citizens."
According to Mr. Chatzipandelas, "the Government does not separate our fellow citizens. The Ministry of Health does not separate our fellow human beings. We offer equal opportunities to everyone to protect their own health and the health of their loved ones. Vaccination saves lives!"
