A new appeal was made on Tuesday by the Minister of Health, Konstantinos Ioannou, for vaccination of citizens under 30 years of age, while he said that the vast majority of cases or hospitalizations are unvaccinated. He stressed that the only way to prevent a new outbreak of the pandemic is to increase vaccinations.
Mr. Ioannou visited the Famagusta General Hospital, which operates as a Reference Hospital to see the progress of the projects for its expansion.
The statements of the Minister of Health
In his statements, he stated that “the works have been completed, now the equipment remains. In fact, the capacity of the hospital has doubled and this is pleasant, because it is an infrastructure that will be needed for the treatment of patients with coronavirus, but it is also an infrastructure that will be left in the hospital to be used to expand other clinics ".
On the occasion of my visit, he added, "I thank once again the hospital staff for their contribution all these months to deal with the pandemic and for the fact that they have made us proud of all the effort and the excellent results that regarding the hospitalizations in Cyprus for the last 15 months ”.
Asked about the significant decrease in hospitalizations and referrals in recent months and whether the Ministry of Health is concerned that in recent days there has been an increase in the rate of positivity, but also in hospital admissions, the Minister of Health replied that "I am personally concerned because in recent days there has been an increase in the percentage of positivity, especially in the rapid detection tests which show us an immediate picture."
For example, in yesterday's results, he continued "the rate of positivity has doubled and this is worrying". Moreover worrying, he continued, is the fact that the interest of the people for vaccination has faded and while the Portal has been open since last Friday, very few appointments have been made for vaccination.
The Minister of Health stated that it has been proven that the vaccination has results, as at the ages where there is vaccination coverage, the cases are negligible. "The cases that are observed are now under the age of 30 and there is currently not the necessary vaccination coverage," he said, stressing that "the only way to prevent a new outbreak of the pandemic is to increase vaccinations." That is why, he continued, we urge the people and call for them to be vaccinated and in addition to observe the measures of personal protection.
We observe, said Konstantinos Ioannou, that in recent days many people no longer comply with personal protection measures and it is not a matter of monitoring or imposing new measures. "Alas if after 15 months of pandemic we have to force the people to follow the measures" he said and noted that an experience must be made, we must learn to live with the virus, to follow the measures, otherwise if we continue as we go we will notice a new outbreak of the pandemic "said the Minister.
Asked by a journalist if he shares the assessment that a possible fourth wave will mainly affect the unvaccinated citizens and what should be done to convince the groups of citizens who were not vaccinated, in order to be vaccinated, Konstantinos Ioannou said that now "the vast majority of cases "Hospitals are not vaccinated, so if we want to protect our health and the health of our own, we must be vaccinated."
Efforts are being made and there is an information campaign for the people, the Minister said while he mentioned that the contract with the company that runs the campaign has been renewed. "We also make appeals to the world, but you realize that it is up to everyone to be convinced so that they come to be vaccinated. "The results and benefits of vaccination are there, they exist and everyone can now evaluate," concluded the Minister of Health.