The Ministry of Health is taking measures to manage hospital beds, which have either been announced or are expected to be announced in the coming days, Health Minister Michalis Damianos said, answering questions after the Cabinet meeting. He also said that other measures such as reinstating the mask are not currently being considered.
Mr. Damianos said that in public hospitals, measures are constantly being taken to manage this pressure that exists. Measures, as he said, are constantly being taken in relation to the release of beds, so that there are sufficient beds for people who need hospitalization.
The remaining measures that will be taken immediately, he noted, concern the increase in the number of personal doctors on duty, so that people who do not need to be hospitalized can receive medical services either from personal doctors during the week or from those on duty during the weekend, so as to decongest the TAEP.
Asked whether measures such as reinstating masks are being considered, he said that such a thing is not on the table at the moment and there is no specific reason to do so. He added that the measures being taken are measures that have already been announced and will be announced in the coming days and are related to the management of hospital beds, which they are discussing with the hospitals themselves.
The issue, as he said, is technical/procedural, while the Ministry of Health also proceeded last Monday with a specific exhortation to the public regarding how they should behave when there are outbreaks of infections.
Research for a forensic pathologist
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Asked whether an investigator has been appointed for the suspended forensic doctor, Mr. Damianos said that there is an officer who will proceed with the disciplinary investigation. This officer, he said, will be announced in due course. He clarified that no other officer had been appointed who was subsequently changed, but that there were simply some discussions taking place.
Asked about statements regarding the coroner's intention to proceed with legal action against him, the Minister stated that all procedures have been followed completely legally and in accordance with public service regulations.