Filenews 20 April 2022
The new relaxations were announced by the Minister of Health Michalis Hadjipantelas, following decisions taken by the Council of Ministers.
Specifically, the Council of Ministers decided the following:
a) from April 22, 2022, the suspension of Safe Pass outdoors of catering premises and nightclubs.
b) as of April 22, 2022, the abolition of the limit of people at a table in catering establishments and the limit of people in gatherings in homes.
c) from 22 April 2022, the suspension of the obligation to wear a protective mask to employees working in outdoor dining and entertainment areas.
(d) from 15 May 2022, the suspension of the safe pass mandatory display measure in all areas. Entertainment centres, music and dance centres and visitors to nursing homes, closed facilities, hospitals, medical centres, clinics and rehabilitation centres are excluded.
(e) from 15 May 2022, visits to nursing homes, closed facilities, hospitals will be allowed upon presentation of a Rapid test valid for 48 hours and a PCR valid for 72 hours for persons who do not hold a valid vaccination or disease certificate, and no obligation for persons holding a valid vaccination or disease certificate (conditions of average surveillance category).
(f) from 15 May 2022, as the obligation to self-quarantine persons who are close contact of a confirmed positive case and who do not hold a valid vaccination or disease certificate is suspended. It is recommended that all close contacts of people who test positive for the virus are tested on the 3rd and 5th day of infection.
(g) from 15 May 2022, the suspension of the obligation to wear a protective mask on children under 12 years of age.
h) from May 15, 2022, the suspension of the measure test to stay for students and teachers in Primary and Secondary Education (kindergartens, special schools and pre-primary schools).
i) from 15 May 2022, the suspension of the measure of mandatory presentation of Safe Pass to students attending all school levels.
j) as of May 15, 2022, it is recommended that all citizens regardless of their vaccination history undergo a self-testing or rapid antigen test once a week.
(k) from 15 May 2022, the increase in capacity in catering and entertainment venues. Specifically, for premises up to 500sq.m at 100% of the capacity and premises over 500sq.m at 85% of the capacity (analogue: 1 person per sq.m).
(l) from 15 May 2022, such as workers in hospitals, dispensaries, medical centres, rehabilitation centres, nursing homes and closed facilities, who do not hold a valid vaccination or disease certificate, shall demonstrate a Rapid test or a PCR valid for 48 hours. For workers holding a valid vaccination or disease certificate, it is recommended to carry out a self-testing test once a week.
m) as of May 15, 2022, the increase of occupancy in stadiums and casinos to 85% of capacity.
(n) as of April 22, 2022, such as Apollonio, Aretaeio, Mediterranean, American Heart and Polyclinic Health hospitals have at least two beds exclusively for patients who have come to the above hospitals for hospitalization for another reason and have been diagnosed positive to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
(o) the administration of a booster/4th dose of vaccine to persons aged 60 years and over, provided that the period of 5 months has elapsed since receiving the booster/3rd dose of vaccine.
(p) the setting of a maximum charge price limit (cap) on the packaging of 5 self-testing tests at the price of €6 .
The following is the announcement of the Minister of Health:
Over the last two years we have been able to deal with this unprecedented threat to public health, with excellent results.
At the moment, with the right planning, we are moving responsibly on the road map of the gradual lifting of restrictions.
Today, we are able to take our next steps. The improvement of the epidemiological picture of Cyprus allows us to announce further relaxations in the measures against the spread of COVID-19.
But beware: The relaxations of the measures against the pandemic should not cancel out the efforts we have been making since March 2020. Suspending restrictions is not tantamount to ending the pandemic. The coronavirus is still among us and infects people around us every day. But with the accumulation of scientific knowledge and experience, we now have the weapons to deal with it successfully, and I am sure that in this battle we will win, with the contribution and individual responsibility of all of us.
Constantly monitoring the data and with the unanimous proposal of the scientific committee, the Council of Ministers decided the following:
a) from April 22, 2022, the suspension of Safe Pass outdoors of catering premises and nightclubs.
b) as of April 22, 2022, the abolition of the limit of people at a table in catering establishments and the limit of people in gatherings in homes.
c) from 22 April 2022, the suspension of the obligation to wear a protective mask to employees working in outdoor dining and entertainment areas.
(d) from 15 May 2022, the suspension of the safe pass mandatory display measure in all areas. Entertainment centres, music and dance centres and visitors to nursing homes, closed facilities, hospitals, medical centres, clinics and rehabilitation centres are excluded.
(e) from 15 May 2022, visits to nursing homes, closed facilities, hospitals will be allowed upon presentation of a Rapid test valid for 48 hours and a PCR valid for 72 hours for persons who do not hold a valid vaccination or disease certificate, and no obligation for persons holding a valid vaccination or disease certificate (conditions of average surveillance category).
(f) from 15 May 2022, as the obligation to self-quarantine persons who are close contact of a confirmed positive case and who do not hold a valid vaccination or disease certificate is suspended. It is recommended that all close contacts of people who test positive for the virus are tested on the 3rd and 5th day of infection.
(g) from 15 May 2022, the suspension of the obligation to wear a protective mask on children under 12 years of age.
h) from May 15, 2022, the suspension of the measure test to stay for students and teachers in Primary and Secondary Education (kindergartens, special schools and pre-primary schools).
i) from 15 May 2022, the suspension of the measure of mandatory presentation of Safe Pass to students attending all school levels.
ι) as of May 15, 2022, it is recommended that all citizens regardless of their vaccination history undergo a self-testing or rapid antigen test once a week..
(k) from 15 May 2022, the increase in capacity in catering and entertainment venues. Specifically, for premises up to 500sq.m at 100% of the capacity and premises over 500sq.m at 85% of the capacity (analogue: 1 person per sq.m).
(l) from 15 May 2022, such as workers in hospitals, dispensaries, medical centres, rehabilitation centres, nursing homes and closed facilities, who do not hold a valid vaccination or disease certificate, shall demonstrate a Rapid test or a PCR valid for 48 hours. For workers holding a valid vaccination or disease certificate, it is recommended to carry out a self-testing test once a week.
m) as of May 15, 2022, the increase of occupancy in stadiums and casinos to 85% of capacity.
(n) as of April 22, 2022, such as Apollonio, Aretaeio, Mediterranean, American Heart and Polyclinic Health hospitals have at least two beds exclusively for patients who have come to the above hospitals for hospitalization for another reason and have been diagnosed positive to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
(o) the administration of a booster/4th dose of vaccine to persons aged 60 years and over, provided that the period of 5 months has elapsed since receiving the booster/3rd dose of vaccine.
(p) the setting of a maximum charge price limit (cap) on the packaging of 5 self-testing tests at the price of €6.
Finally, I would like to wish all our fellow citizens and especially our patients and the medical staff a Happy Easter and a Happy Resurrection.
