Unfortunately, the numbers are relentless: More than 400 of our fellow citizens have died of the disease COVID-19. Today, more than 80 of our fellow citizens are being treated in public hospitals in serious condition. More than 40 of our fellow citizens are in the Intensive Care Unit. Record number, and unprecedentedly high for the data of our small homeland.
Society imposes on us, protects us, forces us to stop the gallop of the deadly virus that endangers the lives of all of us.
We must overcome two very high obstacles that threaten Public Health. One is to stop the Delta mutation and the second is the reluctance of some of our fellow citizens to get vaccinated.
We do not implement political positions, nor do we submit political views. We will not tire of saying that they are guidelines of the most competent. It is the result of research by the scientific community around the world.
The only way to stop the emergence of new aggressive strains is to vaccinate.
The only way to protect yourself and those around you from the virus, the Delta mutation, and other possible variants that occur is to complete our vaccination regimen. Danger awaits everyone. The scientific community all over the world, "thunders", that more, the unvaccinated are in danger.
We especially invite our young people to throw down the wall and take the big step. To protect grandparents, their parents, themselves and our society as a whole.
The Council of Ministers studied all the data, processed the suggestions of the experts and decided to take additional measures. We have decided to tighten some measures, in order to reduce the deadly virus before the Health System is stuck.
They are measures of social protection, measures of social sensitivity, measures of social responsibility. They are decisions that respect the choice of every citizen.
Therefore, the Council of Ministers decided to extend the provisions of the current Decree until August 31, 2021, with the following differences:
- Reduce the maximum number required for the SafePass display from 20 to 10 people, including employees of the premises / company.
- Mandatory SafePass demonstration by all persons aged 12 years and older, including patients, visitors and staff, for admission to OKYPY hospitals and private hospitals.
- Mandatory demonstration of vaccination certificate or recovery from the disease COVID-19 within the last 180 days or a negative 72-hour PCR test result from all persons 12 years of age and older, including staff and visitors, for entry into nursing homes and other enclosed structures.
- Non-permanent residents entering the Republic through legal gates must undergo a PCR or rapid antigen test from 7η day from the date of their arrival and thereafter. Holders of a vaccination or recovery certificate are excluded from COVID-19 within the last 180 days.
- Hold festivals only in adjacent places of worship, provided that all attendees own SafePass, including employees.
- Vaccination for people aged 12 and over starts on Monday, August 2, 2021, with mRNA technology vaccines (Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna), following the recommendation by the Cyprus Pediatric Society and the Scientific Advisory Committee on coronavirus. The vaccination will be voluntary and with the necessary consent of the parents or legal guardians. Already in several European Union countries, such as France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania and Greece as of today, they are vaccinating children aged 12-15, in an effort to achieve greater protection of the population.
- Free rapid antigen test performed on citizens holding a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 within the last 180 days.
The above decisions will be regulated by Decree and will be valid until August 31. More details and information will be given in an announcement of the Ministry to be issued later.