Filenews 7 April 2022 - by Marilena Panagi
Mask outdoors end. SafePass is abolished in workplaces, shops and other premises under 200 square meters, banks and other citizen service areas, including public service departments.
After the Easter holidays, children return to their schools with tests once a week while the days of "Test to Stay" are reduced from 7 to 5.
At the same time, the release of cases is done automatically on the 7th day without the obligation to conduct a rapid screening test with a negative result, while the Ministry of Health is attempting to empty the public hospitals, as the minister will have a meeting tomorrow with the representatives of the private hospitals in order to inform them that the transfer of positive patients to the hospitals of the CySEC will stop. The Ministry of Health, as we are informed, took this decision with the aim of freeing up beds in public hospitals and getting involved in the effort to manage coronavirus patients and the private sector. Of course, whether or not this proposal will be accepted by private hospitals remains unknown, since the practice of sending all coronavirus patients to public hospitals has been followed since the start of the pandemic until today.
The Minister of Health, however, is today going to the Presidential with a long list of recommendations which includes the readjustment of several measures that are currently in place.
Specifically and as reported by "F", scientists and minister of health agreed to recommend:
The automatic release of virus-positive people on the 7th day of their isolation without the obligation to carry out tests, unless, they continue to show symptoms.
The abolition of the mandatory use of masks outdoors.
The increase of occupancy in theatres, cinemas and amphitheatres to 100% of their capacity.
The abolition of teleworking (25%) in businesses and organizations.
As far as SafePass is concerned, as reported by "F", the Minister of Health and scientists agreed:
> The abolition of SafePass in workplaces.
> Its abolition in places where fewer than 50 people congregate, i.e. in premises of less than 200 square meters, with the lifting of the ban affecting all small retail stores.
> Its abolition in banks, businesses serving the public, including parts of the public and semi-public sector, street markets, bazaars and street festivals.
> For the "Test to Stay" program, the Minister of Health and the ETS, apart from reducing its duration, decided to extend it to extracurricular afternoon activities. That is, with the morning negative result children will be able to participate in all the activities of the day.
Also, and again with regard to education, it was decided that with the return of students and teachers to their schools after the Easter holidays, i.e. on 2 May, the number of tests that children will be subjected to per week will decrease and specifically students will be tested only once a week. On the first day of their return they must present a negative test of 48 hours.
Furthermore, a proposal for the lifting of the ban on visits to hospitals will be put before the Council of Ministers. Specifically, and as reported by "F", the relatives of the patients will be able to visit them presenting a negative result in a rapid antigen detection test of the same day, one person per visit.
During yesterday's meeting of the Minister of Health with the scientists, the epidemiological data were analyzed, however, although the epidemiological indicators remain at very high levels, it was decided that several of the measures in force need to be streamlined and adapted to the data of the pandemic without significantly affecting the economy and social activity. Some of the members of the TEU expressed the view yesterday that the measures currently in force, apart from a few exceptions, do not help to reduce the spread of the virus among citizens.
A proposal for the implementation of the "Test to Stay" program in crèches was also put before the members of the SES, due to the request of parents and owners of such stations who claim that most children are now forced into quarantine for long periods of time, as with the detection of positive cases, the entire departments are closed. This suggestion, however, was rejected by some scientists who argued that this would further increase the number of tests performed daily, while the goal of all is to reduce them.
What was agreed yesterday will be put before the Council of Ministers by the Minister of Health Michalis Chatzipandelas for final decisions. According to the planning, scientists and minister, the date of entry into force of the new decisions, if they are finally adopted will be April 11.
In the meantime, the government's intentions include the abolition of the obligation of travelers to complete the "Cyprus Flight Pass" and the relevant decision may be taken today by the Council of Ministers on the proposal of the competent minister.
With the participation of the Police yesterday's meeting
With the presence of the Police, the meeting of the Minister of Health, Michalis Hadjipantelas, with the members of the Advisory Scientific Committee ended yesterday. The members of the Police yesterday informed the scientists about the cases for which a specific social media user who had made public threats against the members of the ETS was accused, while at the same time holding an electronic referendum on the place for which citizens would like to "hang them". This person, after his relevant posts, which lasted a few days, was called by the Police and the Legal Service and was finally charged in writing and released. The members of the TEU were given the possibility of proceeding, if they so wished, with separate complaints against him. Each scientist will act at will without the decision of one affecting the others. It is reported that this person, had proceeded the day before yesterday after his call by the Police, to a new post on the internet stating that whether some should be punished will be decided by the competent authorities.
