EMA ISSUES ADVICE ON USE OF REGN-COV2 ANTIBODY COMBINATION

 

02-03-2021 12:40

EMA issues advice on use of REGN-COV2 antibody combination (casirivimab / imdevimab)

EMA’s Human Medicines Committee (CHMP) has completed its review on the use of the monoclonal antibodies casirivimab and imdevimab to treat patients with COVID-19. This review was undertaken to provide a harmonised scientific opinion at EU level to support national decision making on the possible use of the antibodies prior to marketing authorisation. The Agency concluded that the combination also known as REGN-COV2 can be used for the treatment of confirmed COVID-19 in patients who do not require supplemental oxygen and who are at high risk of progressing to severe COVID-19.

DETAILED AREAS WHERE MASK WEARING IS MANDATORY

 Filenews 22 October 2020

In order to protect citizens and public health from COVID-19 disease, by today's decision of the Council of Ministers, the use of a protective mask by the general population, aged 12 years and over, becomes mandatory in all indoor areas where there are more than one person and in all outdoor areas, as well as in public transport (taxi, buses, etc.).

The above setting excludes the following:

• Houses,

• People who actively drink or eat,

• Persons travelling in a personal vehicle alone or with other members of their family (including minor children);

CLARIFICATION RE THE ARRANGEMENT OF WEDDINGS AND CHRISTENINGS

 Filenews 22 October 2020

In the context of the current decisions of the Council of Ministers to take exceptional measures on a cyprus basis, and in relation to the organisation of weddings and baptisms for the period up to 9 November, it is recalled that cocktail party and congratulations are prohibited and only the physical presence at a meal or dinner with a maximum attendance of 350 people is allowed.

It is understood that at lunch/dinner, the maximum number of 6 persons per table applies, in accordance with the provisions of the Decree.

It should be noted that especially in the Provinces of Limassol and Paphos, from tomorrow until 9 November the curfew measure is implemented from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day. Also, the dining areas in the two Provinces, including the places where weddings and baptisms take place, are allowed to remain open until 10.30 p.m.

Source: eyenews

NEW CORONAVIRUS MEASURES WEF 23 OCTOBER

 Filenews 22 October 2020

A series of new measures has been decided by the Council of Ministers due to the rapid increase in the number of cases of coronavirus observed in recent days in Cyprus. Among other things, it was decided to use a mask in the outdoors by people over 12 years of age on a Cypriot basis. The measures come into force from tomorrow Friday.

In particular, the following measures are being implemented on a global basis:

10 PERSON MAXIMUM RULE SCRAPPED FROM JUNE 24

in-cyprus 19 June 2020 -ByBouli Hadjioannou

A rule restricting gatherings to a maximum of 10 people as part of measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak will be scrapped on June 24, the Health Ministry has announced.

It said that the initial plan was to limit gatherings to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors for the period of June 24 to July 6.

However, because of the very good epidemiological situation of recent days, it has been decided to ease this further to 75 people indoors and 150 outdoors —  from June 24 rather than July 7 as initially planned.

The ministry clarified that the simultaneous gathering indoors and outdoors is not permitted.

The rule applies for include weddings, christenings, concerts, festivals, private gatherings at home and other forms of mass gatherings.

Should these be at homes, the maximum number includes residents.

In each case, hygiene protocols must be adhered to.

MPs APPROVE HIGHER FINES FOR BUSINESSES THAT FLOUT DECREES

in-cyprus 19 June 2020 -ByBouli Hadjioannou

MPs on Friday approved tougher penalties for businesses that break the quarantine law and police authority to temporarily close down venues found to be in violation of the various decrees.

The tougher regime, which the government had described as essential to help contain the spread of coronavirus as the economy reopens, was approved by 45 votes in favour and six against.

The final bills had been amended by the House Legal Affairs Committee so that penalties will correspond to the size of the premise.

PAYMENT OF SUBSIDIES FOR VERY SMALL BUSINESSES

in-cyprus 19 June 2020 -ByBouli Hadjioannou

The state  is expected to start payment of a one off subsidy to 40,000 to 50,000 small businesses and self employed totalling some €100 m next week, Demetra Landou reports for Phileleftheros.

The green light is expected from the European Commission in the next few days, opening the way for the payment of the scheme.

It covers small businesses with up to 50 employees and the self-employed who took part in the government’s support schemes for the full or partial suspension of operations in the period of April 13 to May 12. The aim is to help cover expenses such as rent and other operating costs.

CORONAVIRUS - CYPRUS RELEASED AMONG THE HIGHEST PROPORTION OF PRISONERS

Cyprus Mail 18 June 2020 -by Evie Andreou

Cyprus is among the countries that released the highest proportion of prisoners in the early stages of Covid-19, according to a study by the Council of Europe released on Thursday.

The research, compiled by the University of Lausanne for the Council of Europe, shows that prison administrations across the continent released over 122,000 inmates as a preventive measure during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.

Cypriot authorities gave around 130 inmates early release last spring as part of measures to contain the spread of Covid-19.

FIVE NEW SCHEMES TO BOLSTER JOBS, BUSINESSES

in-cyprus 17 June 2020 -ByBouli Hadjioannou

The Council of Ministers on Wednesday approved five new, targeted schemes to support employees, businesses and the unemployed as the economy enters the recovery stage after the coronavirus pandemic.

Announcing the decision, Labour Minister Zeta Emilianidou said the five schemes were in line with a government promise to provide a safety net of employees.

They have been tailored to help those businesses most in need of support because of the pandemic and all are conditional on a significant reduction in turnover with the aim of seeing them through the economic recovery period.

WHO MOVES TO UPDATE COVID-19 GUIDANCE AFTER 'GREAT NEWS' IN DRUG STUDY

in-cyprus 17 June 2020 -ByBouli Hadjioannou

The World Health Organization (WHO) said it was moving to update its guidelines on treating people stricken with COVID-19 to reflect results of a clinical trial that showed a cheap, common steroid can help save critically ill patients.

Trial results announced on Tuesday showed dexamethasone, used since the 1960s to reduce inflammation in diseases such as arthritis, cut death rates by around a third among the most severely ill COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital.

UniNic STUDY - EVEN WITH MASK, SALIVA DROPLETS CAN STILL ESCAPE MOUTH

in-cyprus 17 June 2020 -ByBouli Hadjioannou

Coronavirus is able to pass between two people standing up to one metre apart even if one of them is wearing a surgical grade face mask, the Daily Mail reports, citing a study by researchers from the University of Nicosia published in the journal Physics of Fluids.

They also found that masks became even less efficient when people repeatedly cough into them.

Co-author Professor Dimitris Drikakis of the University of Nicosia said a mask alone cannot prevent the transport of saliva droplets completely.

“Many droplets penetrate the mask shield and some saliva droplet disease-carrier particles can travel more than 1.2 metres,” he said – although most travel under 1 metre.

STEROID DRUG HAILED AS 'BREAKTHROUGH' IN COVID-19 AS TRIAL SHOWS IT SAVES LIVES

Reuters 16 June 2020

© Reuters/Dado Ruvic FILE PHOTO: A 3D-printed coronavirus model is seen in front of the words coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on display in this illustration

By Kate Kelland and Alistair Smout

LONDON (Reuters) - A cheap and widely-used steroid called dexamethasone has become the first drug shown to be able to save lives among COVID-19 patients in what scientists said is a "major breakthrough" in the coronavirus pandemic.

Trial results announced on Tuesday showed dexamethasone, which is used to reduce inflammation in other diseases such as arthritis, reduced death rates by around a third among the most severely ill of COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital.

ELI LILLY STARTS TRIAL OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS DRUG IN COVID-19 PATIENTS

in-cyprus 15 June 2020 -ByBouli Hadjioannou

Eli Lilly and Co on Monday said it was launching a study of its rheumatoid arthritis drug baricitinib in patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

The trial is one of several efforts by the U.S. drugmaker to help combat the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 400,000 people globally, according to a Reuters tally.

The drug is being tested to see if it can reduce deaths from the COVID-19 illness and lessen its severity. Scientists at Lilly believe that baricitinib could help suppress a potentially lethal immune response to COVID-19 called “cytokine storm” and reduce COVID-19’s ability to reproduce in infected cells.

MUTATION IN NEW CORONAVIRUS INCREASES CHANCE OF INFECTION - Study

in-cyprus 15 June 2020 -ByBouli Hadjioannou

A specific mutation in the new coronavirus can significantly increase its ability to infect cells, according to a study by U.S. researchers.

The research may explain why early outbreaks in some parts of the world did not end up overwhelming health systems as much as other outbreaks in New York and Italy, according to experts at Scripps Research.

The mutation, named D614G, increased the number of “spikes” on the coronavirus – which is the part that gives it its distinctive shape. Those spikes are what allow the virus to bind to and infect cells.

ASTRAZENECA AGREES TO SUPPLY EUROPE WITH 400m DOSES OF COVID-19 VACCINE

Cyprus Mail 15 June 2020 - Reuters News Service

AstraZeneca Plc has signed a contract with European governments to supply the region with its potential vaccine against the coronavirus, the British drugmaker’s latest deal to pledge its drug to help combat the pandemic.

The contract is for up to 400 million doses of the vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford, the company said on Saturday, adding that it was looking to expand manufacturing of the vaccine, which it said it would provide for no profit during the pandemic. The vaccine is still in clinical trials. If the trial results convince regulators the vaccine is safe and effective, deliveries would be expected to start by the end of 2020.

ANOTHER 10,000 COVID-19 TESTS FOR EMPLOYEES

in-cyprus 15 June 2020 -ByBouli Hadjioannou

A total of 10,000 employees who returned to work under phase two and three of the lifting of the lockdown are to undergo Covid-19 tests as part of government policy for wider testing among the general population.

The tests are being paid for by the government following a decision of the Council of Ministers on June 3. It follows similar programmes introduced when sectors of the economy opened up as authorities continue to keep a close eye on possible infections through testing.

CORONAVIRUS HAS EXPOSED ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES

Cyprus Mail 14 June 2020

Those in the service and sales sectors have registered the largest increases in unemployment, widening an already growing disparity between wages

The coronavirus and the efforts to combat its devastating impact have brought into sharper focus the inequalities, fragilities and structural weaknesses of the economy

By Les Manison

The devastating economic effects stemming from the spread of the coronavirus have exposed the underlying inequalities and fragilities as well as the structural weaknesses of the Cyprus economy. Indeed, the disproportionate adverse effect of the economic crisis on the poorer and less-privileged segments of society has heightened inequalities.

NEW COVID PROTOCOLS FOR BABY AND CHILD CARE CENTRES

in-cyprus 13 June 2020 -ByConstantinos Tsintas

The Labour ministry issued revised protocols for baby and child (0-12) care protocols, prepared in coordination with the Epidemiological Unit and the Health Ministry’s Public Health Services.

According to the new protocols, the entry of parents/guardians or other individuals inside the baby care centre is strictly prohibited and will only be allowed under extraordinary circumstances following the approval of the centre’s director.

Τhe child carer must always keep a distance of three square meters every child and a distance of two meters.

The number of children in every working space must not exceed 12, always keeping in mind distance protocols.

The revised protocols have been uploaded on the social welfare site at www.mlsi.gov.cy/sws

CORONAVIRUS - PLANS TO CATER FOR 'COVID TOURISTS' BEING FINALISED

Cyprus Mail 13 June 2020 - by Nick Theodoulou

THE Cypriot summer season for Brits is likely to start in mid-July as the holiday island even has plans for ‘safety net hotels’ should tourists fall ill with Covid-19.

While everyone is hoping for the best – no infections – plans are underway to offer a holiday vibe even to those who test positive.

Bingo, karaoke, entertainment shows and room service are on the menu but details about facilities for those found positive have not yet been finalised.

Speaking to the Daily Mail on Friday, Deputy Tourism Minister Savvas Perdios said: “They can order room service, meals and drinks, and will be provided with nightly entertainment including karaoke, shows and bingo so it will still feel like a holiday.

CORONAVIRUS - GOVT TO SEEK BIDS FOR RAPID TESTING

Cyprus Mail 13 June 2020 - by Peter Michael

The government is set to launch a bidding process for a contract to conduct rapid Covid tests at airports, Transport Minster Yiannis Karousos said on Friday.

At the moment, he said, passengers are required to have a test done on arrival, which takes 24 hours to process.

He spoke of new technologies that make it possible to receive results in an hour and a half that so those arriving at the airport will not stay in quarantine for a day but will instead wait there until the result is in.

Karousos also said for passengers coming from some countries whose authorities cannot provide the test, Cyprus would offer it on arrival.

He said the cost of the test would be borne by the passenger.