Filenews 4 January 2024 - by Despina Psilou
It is mandatory to show a rapid test for 48 hours when entering hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, instead of 72 that was currently in force, while the use of a mask remains mandatory.
At the same time, it is recommended to use a mask in all indoor spaces. These, among others, were decided at a meeting between the Scientific Committee for the Monitoring of Covid disease and the Minister of Health, Dr. Popi Kanari.
According to information from philenews, the obligation for a 48-hour rapid test concerns all professionals and visitors to these areas. Weekly random testing will resume in nursing homes and closed facilities. Also, the Ministry will repeat its effort for vaccination in nursing homes, as their percentage is only 18%. As part of this effort, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Christina Giannaki, will also carry out visits.
The Ministry of Health is going to intensify the effort to implement the decrees that are currently in force, but which are not being implemented.
At the meeting, scientists presented the prevailing situation, with hospitalizations amounting to 82, three of them in intensive care. It is recalled that last Monday there were 60. There is no data on deaths.
The announcement of the Ministry of Health in detail
The scientific epidemiological data in relation to the coronavirus cases recorded in Cyprus in recent weeks, were presented in the afternoon to the Minister of Health Dr. Popi Kanari by the members of the Scientific Committee for the Monitoring of Covid-19 disease.
The meeting was attended by a representative of the Cyprus Health Organization, a representative of the Directorate of Nursing Services as well as representatives of the Epidemiological Surveillance and Control of Infectious Diseases Unit of the Ministry of Health.
During the meeting, the situation was assessed and it was reported that substrains of "Omicron 2", with the dominant strain JN.1, are in an outbreak in the general population and not in an epidemiological wave phase. It was therefore decided that:
· Demonstration of a negative rapid antigen test for COVID-19, with sampling performed within 48 hours or a negative laboratory test (PCR) for COVID-19, with sampling carried out within 48 hours for visits to Nursing Homes, Hospitals, Outpatient Clinics, Dental Clinics, Closed Structures and accommodation areas for vulnerable groups, to persons over 12 years old.
· The use of a protective face mask is mandatory for all employees as well as for visitors aged 12 and over, indoors in nursing homes and other care and accommodation structures for elderly and vulnerable groups as well as in hospitals, outpatient clinics, dental clinics of public and private hospitals, in closed structures and accommodation areas for vulnerable groups.
(The above two measures will be included in a Decree that will be submitted tomorrow morning to the Council of Ministers.)
· The use of a protective face mask is mandatory for all positive cases in all areas where they are moved.
· Vaccinations for employees and residents of Nursing Homes, and other care and accommodation structures for elderly and vulnerable groups through mobile vaccination units of the Ministry of Health.
(The last two concern recommendations of the Scientific Committee for the Monitoring of Covid-19)
