A table for 20 people can be planned for Christmas (it is unknown what will apply on New Year's Eve as it will depend on the epidemiological data).
The majority of the Scientific Advisory Committee, despite the statements of some members of the TEU in recent days, opposed the proposal and therefore no change in the meetings in general should be expected.
- However, the SafePass period for patients will probably change and from six months it will drop to three, while those employees who have received the first or two doses of the vaccine will be required to be tested once a week.
- Minor changes for unvaccinated children as well, since the proposal to lift the ban on unvaccinated people was generally rejected again by the majority of SEN and instead, it was decided that children over 12 who are not vaccinated will be allowed to enter areas. who are not allowed to enter unvaccinated, if accompanied by their parents who must be vaccinated and provided they have a negative three-day test.
The majority of the TEU also rejected a proposal to increase the percentage of telework to 50% but it was decided that all children and teachers should return to their schools after the holidays with a negative test. A proposal for extension of a few days during the holidays and in particular it was discussed whether it would be useful not to reopen the schools for a single day on January 7, but no decision was made on this.
It is worth mentioning that during yesterday's meeting of the Minister of Health with the members of the TEU, the decisions were taken after a vote and specifically the members of the advisory committee were invited to place themselves in each of the proposals he presented before them.
In a vote, suggestions were made to reduce the number of people in home gatherings, to lift the ban on the unvaccinated in restaurants, to increase the teleworking rate in businesses to 50% from the current 20%, to test all employees, to extend school holidays, to be tested by all students and teachers before school reopens, to reduce the safe time of SafePass for the sick and to change the way vaccinees are treated as close contact cases. For the last suggestion, the members of the TEU voted in favor and announcements from the Ministry of Health should be expected in the coming days.
The possibility of setting up a subcommittee on infections was also discussed, which will monitor the situation and submit its recommendations to the Minister of Health and the TEU. However, no final decision was made.
It is reported that some (very few) of the members of the TEU requested that their personal suggestions not be given to their colleagues even before the final decisions were made after expressing fears of leaks to the media.
However, the Minister of Health in his introductory statement called on all members of the TEU to cooperate, stressing that "at the moment the citizens are waiting for us to tell them how they will spend their holidays and we can not give the impression that we do not agree between us". He also asked, as, "the suggestions that will be put before the Minister are agreed so that there will be no public disagreements afterwards".
What was agreed yesterday between the Minister of Health and scientists is expected to be presented today before the Council of Ministers and if adopted by the other ministers then Michalis Hadjipandelas will proceed after the meeting to relevant announcements. It is also possible that the Council of Ministers will add additional measures if it deems it necessary.
They do not see a lockdown but warn
At the moment, the universal ban (lockdown) does not seem to be included in the intentions of the government and this can be easily ascertained from the suggestions made yesterday before the members of the TEU by the Minister of Health, Michalis Hadjipandelas. However, the President of the Republic in his statements did not fail to warn the citizens about the continuation: "If you compare what is happening in Cyprus with what is happening in Cyprus and the rest of Europe and the rest of the world, you will find that we are trying to manage freedoms of the citizen and professionals in the best possible way. But the important thing is for both citizens and professionals to realize that if certain measures are not followed, we will inevitably be led to stricter ones. "What matters is to see the health of everyone, the health of our fellow human beings, but at the same time the economic survival of companies, employees, self-employed and consequently the state."
Regarding the individual responsibility, especially during the holidays, the Minister of Health also spoke in his own statements, stating that "the minister who puts water in his wine is the minister, I understand the concerns of the people, but at the same time we have a great responsibility to keep the place, businesses and economy open and to give people the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones. The easiest thing for us would be to do a lockdown like they do in other countries and there would be no problem. But we are trying in a difficult way to implement the measures that we have to implement and as it seems at the moment the measures have very good results ".
Agathangelos attack against OSAK
However, the president of PIS, Petros Agathangelou, during his presence at the Ministry of Health yesterday as a member of the TEU fired at the Federation of Cyprus Patients' Associations due to the letter sent by OSAK to the Minister of Health submitting specific suggestions during the submission. of holidays. Mr. Agathangelos' positions were adopted by two other members of the TEU, however, the Minister of Health indicated that the proposals of the OSAK, as well as other bodies involved in health, are welcome.
philenews.com