Filenews 1 February 2022 - by Marilena Panagi
Measures depending on the level of risk for the spread of the virus in each area or activity include the plan of the Ministry of Health, which was presented yesterday during a teleconference to the members of the Advisory Scientific Committee, who were invited to submit their comments and comments in the coming days.
Information from "F" indicates that the plan prepared by the Ministry of Health, includes five categories of sites/activities based on the degree of risk for the spread of the virus and sets out measures and restrictions that will apply to each category separately for all citizens.
For example, the conditions that will apply to entering a nightclub will be different from the conditions that will be set for theatres or cinemas. In the same way, the requirements for entering a supermarket will be different and the requirements for entering a restaurant will be different.
The categorization of sites and activities and the requirements according to the risk category, will be, as we are informed, connected to the digital control of SafePass which will also have different validity, depending on the space of use.
Simply put, SafePass's requirements for entering a theatre will not be the same as the requirements for entering a bakery, supermarket or retail store, and the digital control (i.e. the "application" itself) will be tailored to the needs of each space depending on its category.
With this in mind, it must be considered inevitable and the adjustment of the measures currently in force and gradually the implementation of the plan, will lead to changes in terms of the division of citizens into vaccinated and unvaccinated with the variations mainly related to an increase in the frequency of the required negative tests depending on the vaccination history, always in combination with the place where a person will enter.
Of course, whatever the initial positions of the members of the TEU during last night's presentation of the draft measures, it should not be expected that they will be transferred in the form of proposals for immediate effect during today's meeting with the Minister of Health, since due to the small but significant deterioration that the epidemiological data have presented in Cyprus over the last five days, any plans for the concession of relaxations, were put in the drawers since yesterday morning.
Therefore, the lifting of the ban on dancing in nightclubs is probably postponed for at least two more weeks and no change should be expected in the protocols and restrictions that are now in place in social gatherings such as weddings and christenings.
The only relaxation that may be given by the Council of Ministers during tomorrow's meeting will be that of lifting the ban on entry to unvaccinated children in places where entry to unvaccinated people is prohibited by decrees. In this case too, however, the relaxation will be somewhat limited since the entry of children will be allowed (in the first phase), only when accompanied by their fully vaccinated parents.
Regarding the extension of the "Test to stay" program to more areas, information from "F" indicates that the intention of the Ministry of Health is to first finalize the way of its implementation in the services for which a decision has already been taken, i.e. hospitals, police and fire brigade and then to study the possibility of further decisions.
However, as we are informed, a request from the National Guard is already before the Ministry of Health, but no consultation has begun.
Particular concern for nursing homes
> Staff transfer the virus to the elderly, according to the first investigation
> More than 400 positive cases in January
Particular concern seems to prevail among scientists about the rapid increase in the number of positive cases detected daily in nursing homes. As can be seen from the preliminary investigation conducted by the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Health, the virus is transferred to the elderly residents mainly by the staff.
According to official data, a total of 417 positive cases were identified. 324 concerned elderly and elderly residents and 93 employees. Chains of cases were identified in a total of 34 facilities while another 17 facilities identified isolated cases during January. The spread of the virus in nursing homes does not seem to vary much by province.
The analysis of the data, according to the official report, shows that of the elderly and elderly who were infected with the virus, by the end of last week which records the highest number of cases (238), 18 developed severe symptoms and were admitted for hospitalization. Seven elderly people who lived in a nursing home also died of them, three died while in a hospital and four left their last breath in the Roofs where they were accommodated.
As far as their vaccination history is concerned, 18 of the elderly who needed hospitalization were either unvaccinated or had received only the two doses and seven months had elapsed since receiving the second dose. The remaining three elderly people had received all three doses of the vaccine.
As far as the deceased persons are concerned, the data recorded in the context of the relevant investigation found that six were without a history of vaccination and one person had received all three doses of the vaccine.
As reported by "F", both the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Health are in constant communication with each other, since the spread of the virus in nursing homes where elderly people who belong to the very vulnerable groups of the population live, causes particular concern. This week is also considered to be very important for drawing safe conclusions, as the largest increase in the number of positive cases occurred last week in which a total of 238 cases had been detected compared to 96 in the week before. According to the same information, if necessary, the Ministry of Health will proceed to impose even stricter protocols while under the microscope are mainly the elderly who have been admitted to nursing homes after the end of the organized vaccination of residents by the Ministry of Health.
