NEW DECREE ON COVID-19 - WHAT CHANGES IN EXISTING MEASURES

 Filenews 31 March 2023

The Ministry of Health proceeded to changes in the measures for Covid -19 by abolishing existing restrictions through a decree.

These are the changes that were decided:

Visits to hospitals, nursing homes and other closed care and accommodation facilities for the elderly and vulnerable groups Change in the age of mandatory demonstration of a negative test from 6 years to 12 years old

Visits to outpatient clinics and medical and diagnostic centres Removal of all restrictions such as showing a vaccination/recovery/negative test certificate

Limit on the number of visitors to nursing homes and other closed care and accommodation facilities for the elderly and vulnerable groups Remove a maximum daily limit

Availability of 2 beds for patients with COVID - 19 from other hospitals besides OKY Abolition

Mandatory use of a mask in public transport Abolition

Mandatory isolation of illegal immigrants for 14 days Abolition

Mandatory disinfection of premises Abolition

Obligation of business owner/manager to comply with the Regulations provided for in the Decree Remains

Appointment of monitors for the implementation of measures in force Only the Police, the Health Services, the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare and the Private security service agencies and private guards remain.

Examination of asylum seekers and detainees Only the obligation for rapid tests for newcomers to asylum seekers and detainees remains. Repeated examination is abolished.

Compliance of positive COVID-19 cases with the guidelines Remains and includes mandatory self-isolation of 5-7 days

Positive cases may contact any doctor for a repeat prescription provided that they are not able to contact their personal doctor Remains

Ability of the Ministry of Health to indicate places for sample checks Removed

Granting of Public Health Leave to employees Removed

Granting of a License for Public Health reasons to trainees and trainees Removed

Obligation of compliance of the owner/manager of nursing homes for examinations of staff and tenants Removed

Setting of maximum price for PCR and Rapid Test Reduction of the maximum value from 30 to 25 and from 10 to 5 respectively

Maximum price of self-test The price remains at €1.70 per piece and €6 per pack of 5 tests

Transfer of positive COVID-19 cases from hotels to a mandatory confinement area Removed

Granting absence from work and school (for students) for the day of vaccination Removed

Obligation to present a vaccination certificate / negative test / recovery certificate by employees in hospitals, medical centers, nursing homes Removed

Vaccination Certificate (Safe Pass) Complete abolition for entry into hospitals, nursing homes and other closed care and accommodation structures for the elderly and vulnerable groups

Obligation to present a vaccination certificate/negative test/recovery certificate for entry into the reception and accommodation centers for asylum seekers Removed

Period of validity of a certificate of recovery Remains at 90 days

Scanning a QR code of a European Digital COVID Certificate Removed

Conduction of trade union assemblies/elections by electronic means Removed