Υπ. Health: Universal lockdown is not ruled out if the indicators are derailed

The findings of the analysis of the data so far do not allow for a relaxation of the measures from December 14 onwards, said the Minister of Health, Konstantinos Ioannou, to the Cyprus News Agency, who, however, stressed that this is under the condition of the Minister Council, which will study the data and come to a final decision.

According to the Minister of Health, although a package of measures was announced for the period December 14 to January 7, 2021, wanting to prepare the citizens for a possible lifting of the measures, they had set as a necessary condition for their implementation the slowing down of the virus transmission and the resumption of indicators within safe limits.

He stressed that "this does not seem to be achieved at the moment", to note that "we are evaluating and analyzing the data and certainly the findings do not allow us to relax."

He also told KYPE that last week was "the most epidemiologically burdened" since the beginning of the pandemic, adding that the concern is intense, given that despite the measures taken by the Government so far, the picture in Cyprus "does not it has improved to the extent we wanted. "

Fifteen deaths, 2.200 cases and dozens of hospital admissions in 7 days

Asked how much he was worried about the fact that last week was the worst epidemiologically in terms of cases and deaths, Mr. Ioannou said that "last week was indeed the most epidemiologically burdened", to note that in a period of seven days 2.200 were recorded cases, dozens of hospital admissions, but worst of all, 15 (until yesterday) of our fellow citizens ended up due to the virus ".

"Certainly," he said, "the concern is intense, as we observe that despite the measures we have taken so far, the image in our country has not improved to the extent we wanted."

In addition, he said that the fact that the guidelines and protocols, which exist for various companies and sectors of the economy and society, in many cases are not implemented satisfactorily is also a matter of concern.

He clarified that he does not place any responsibility on the citizens for the burden on the epidemiological image, since as he added "the continuous effort for the last ten months is painful".

At the moment no other solution, until vaccination

"I recognize that the fatigue is very great for everyone, whether it is the citizens, or the Government, or the Scientific Advisory Committee, or the Officers in the various Departments who work endless hours to manage the pandemic," he said.

However, he stressed that "there is no other solution at the moment", to add that "until a significant percentage of the population is vaccinated, which will greatly help reduce epidemiological indicators, our only option is to more faithful implementation of directives and self-protection measures ".

Universal lockdown is not excluded as an option

Asked if there is room for universal lockdown, the Minister of Health reiterated that "public health precautions have always been what guided our plans and the decisions we made", noting that without ignoring the financial costs, equally large and important considers that it is the social and psychological costs that the pandemic has brought to the citizens.

He also stated that "in the first outbreak of the pandemic, our knowledge about the pandemic was minimal and we needed time to properly organize and shield the Health System", adding that "for this reason a lockdown was implemented in Cyprus, which it was certainly crucial in limiting the spread of the virus. "

He also noted that in the second wave of the pandemic, the effort is focused on controlling the deterioration of the situation, while maintaining the functioning of society and the economy.

"For the time being, we are the only country in the EU that has not reinstated a total lockdown, but this does not mean that it has been ruled out as an option," said the Minister of Health.

As he added, "our effort is to endure as long as possible, without harsh restrictions and / or lockdown, until a large percentage of vaccination coverage is achieved."

Universal lockdown if the indicators are derailed

Answering another question about the number of daily cases that constitute the red line for the implementation of the universal lockdown, Mr. Ioannou said that "the factors that assist in making any decision are many", adding that "we do not decide only according to the number of cases or the percentage of positivity and the number of transmissions, but we also see the number of patients and admissions to the Intensive Care Units, but also the number of deaths ".

"Therefore," he noted, "derailing all these indicators and keeping them high for a significant period of time will ring the bell and lead us to stricter restrictions and possibly a global lockdown."

Receipt of the first batch of vaccines is estimated at the beginning of January

Asked when the first batch of vaccines is expected and when the first vaccinations will start, the Minister of Health said that according to the information received from the European Commission, which has taken a coordinating role on the issue of vaccine supply, the distribution of the first quantities of vaccination is expected to start simultaneously in all Member States by the end of December.

Regarding Cyprus, he said that "a realistic estimate is that we will receive the first batch in early January and the vaccinations will start immediately, according to the vaccination plan, which has been prepared and the individual points are currently being finalized.

Referring to vaccinations, he said that "initially priority for vaccination will be given to health professionals and especially those who work in the first line, in the reference hospital, in the COVID wards, in the Intensive Care Units, in the TAEP, etc.", while noting that "then, in "Based on the ECDC guidelines, as well as the results of clinical trials for each vaccine, the vulnerable groups of the population at increased risk for serious COVID disease have been identified."

He added that the aim is to vaccinate the general population or a larger percentage of them, noting that "to this end, the actions we took through the Commission focused on supplying a sufficient quantity to vaccinate the entire population."

In the meantime, he stated that the vaccine is not mandatory, the vaccinations will be done in the Vaccination Centers, it will be free of charge and the epidemiological surveillance of the vaccination will be done by the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit in collaboration with the scientific committee.

No agency has the power to curb the virus on its own

Asked to indicate whether he would ask the Chief of Police to further tighten controls, he said that "my communication with both the Minister of Justice and the Chief of Police, but also with my other fellow Ministers is frequent, in order to examine regularly the data from the controls that are done and to discuss ways to strengthen them ".

"Undoubtedly," he added, "there is always room for increased surveillance by all relevant services and not just the police. Of course, we must always keep in mind that the potential for human resources is not unlimited. "

He also said that "we do not want to cultivate in the citizens the feeling of punishment, if the measures are not implemented", to note that "we are not a police state, to appoint a police officer next to every citizen, so that each of us is forced to comply with the measures ".

He concluded: "We all need to be responsible and aware that our behavior has an impact on the whole, on Public Health, on our parents, on our grandparents and on ourselves", adding that otherwise Service does not have the power to curb the virus on its own. "

Source: KYPE