The new data of the pandemic are being studied by scientists and the Ministry of Health while thoughts are being made for a review of measures and practices that are valid and applied today, in view of the winter season. Under the microscope, and without making decisions or making specific recommendations, are already the criteria included in SafePass and how to treat vaccinated people, given the fact that proven and vaccinated people, even to a much lesser extent, infect and transmit the virus, which may necessitate, at least in some cases at an early stage, the resumption of regular checks with a rapid antigen detection test.
Of course, the ongoing debate on the process of tracking cases found in schools is extensive, as the goal of both scientists and the Government is to prevent any possibility of school closures and students returning to distance learning. .
Scientists and the Minister of Health are expected to say so in the middle of next week, in order to discuss in general, issues related to this phase of the pandemic but also the preparation that must be done in each case for the coming months.
Changes also seem to be coming in the way statistics are recorded, as it is necessary to adapt them to new data, with scientists judging that it is now necessary to have more and different information in their hands to more safely assess the course of the pandemic in Cyprus.
As the head of the Advisory Scientific Committee, Konstantinos Tsiotis, explained to "F", "in the management of the pandemic, the decisions and tactics that are applied, as well as their goals, must be adapted to the data and data that are constantly updated. It is from this perspective that the policy applied today should be evaluated, where the control of the entrance to various public spaces and gathering places is done with the application of SafePass ".
This measure, he said, "came into force in May, when things were very different: the vaccination coverage was much lower, while we were coming out of the third lockdown and the goal, obviously, was to ensure the opening of premises in the safest and most stable way was happening ".
Today, he added, the data are different: "the vast majority of adults are vaccinated, we have a more contagious strain among us, while data from both Cyprus and abroad show that the more vaccinated, the greater the chance of a "A virus-positive (and potentially contagious) person should be vaccinated," Tsiotis said, without fail to stress that "a vaccinated person is still less likely to have severe symptoms or die, but again, a vaccinated person." the more exposed it is to the virus, the more likely it is to catch it. "
Given the conditions, he continued, "in the autumn and winter we expect that there will be an increase in transmissions. So if we want our premises to continue to operate safely, that is, to ensure that the risk of transmission will remain low, it is necessary to reconsider the policy of managing the entry of people in these premises ".
SafePass, "serves to ensure a reduced risk of transmission in public areas, increasing the likelihood that everyone will be negative in advance. Now, 4 months after its implementation with the economy and society in full swing, we want to keep the level of security high. That is why we are called upon to approach the issue in terms of risk assessment. " That is, "to take into account all the data.
As far as citizens are concerned, who is most at risk of being contagious? Who is most at risk for getting stuck if they find themselves in a common area or at a gathering? Which areas and activities are at greater risk for transmission and, conversely, which are at lower risk? What is the epidemiological situation in society and how do we expect it to develop? Are our health protocols sufficient? Or should we reduce the risk of the virus entering these areas in advance? "
All this "must be equated and considered under the following question: how can we ensure that we reduce as much as possible the risk of transmission to all people without exception who will be in these areas?". For this reason, "it is our obligation to look at the data in their full range and to take all necessary steps in a timely manner."
Repeat tests in schools
In terms of education, scientists and tracking unit are studying the data recorded in recent days in order to define the procedure to be followed in cases of case detection or cases in a school unit or department. The first almost fifteen days of the reopening of the Secondary education, give indications for an increase of the incidents in the next period, a fact that imposes the timely consultation between scientists and the involved ministries (Health and Education), so that in case of a new outbreak, the appropriate action plan.
According to information from "Φ", there are thoughts for the introduction of repeat tests every three days in departments where there is a coronavirus case, as well as control in the entire school unit after a week.
Long-covid clinics in the public
The large number of people who present with prolonged symptoms and health problems, after being infected with the coronavirus, oblige the State Health Services Organization to proceed with the establishment of special clinics in public hospitals.
As the spokesman of the Organization, Charalambos Charilaou, told "F", "there is a large number of patients who need medical care and OKYPY is currently at the stage of completing its planning".
The clinics for patients with long-covid syndrome will be staffed, as Mr. Charilaou said, "by specialist physicians while a special questionnaire is being prepared which will be completed to determine the needs of the patient. "Beyond that, our doctors will refer patients to the various medical specialties, depending on their needs and the problems they face." The number of patients in this category, concluded Mr. Charilaou, "is already quite large if we take into account the fact that their percentage in the total number of cases is 30% and we have exceeded 100.000 cases for a long time. Cairo".
Source: Philenews