Minister of Health announces the emergency measures in place from 5th November

Initial statement by the Minister of Health Mr. Konstantinos Ioannou in the announcement of the emergency measures for the management of the pandemic

When we decided last May to gradually restart society and the economy, we made it clear that we must continue to adhere to the measures so that the transmission of the virus is controlled and does not escape. In order to strengthen this effort, a series of measures had been announced as early as August, with a time horizon in January of the following year.

Although the measures taken were appropriate to stop the spread of the virus, unfortunately this was not possible. The situation in our country, although extremely difficult at this time, can be controlled and normalized again. But we must act once again directly and taking into account social and psychological factors.

The extraordinary measures decided by the Council of Ministers today aim in this direction. The measures focus both on curbing the outbreak of pan-Cypriot cases and on reducing the spread at the local level, where an increased epidemiological burden is detected.

For the planning of the measures, in addition to the psychological and social factors, the epidemiological data before us were taken into account, and especially the geographical distribution of the incidents. Due to the small size of Cyprus, it is not possible to limit the spread to the degree we want, while there is ease in the transmission of the virus from one Province to another.

In addition, the spread in the community, but also the risk of specific activities, where there is an increased risk of high transmission of the virus, was assessed and taken into account.

Specifically and analytically, the measures are categorized into three groups as follows:

Category A. Medium-term measures in force on a nationwide basis for the period from 5 November 2020 until 15 January 2021 :

1. The regulation for the operation of closed and open cinemas, theaters and theaters with a fullness of 50% of their capacity continues to apply .
2. It is allowed to organize conferences, assemblies and / or events in conference interiors with a maximum number of participants of 250 people , subject to the protocol and the measure for keeping a distance of 3 sq.m. per person, regardless of the square footage of each property. It is not allowed to stop for a break or to offer coffee / snacks / cocktails during the event.
3. Beverage and food retailers (supermarkets, mini-markets, butchers, etc.) and pharmacies from the start of their operation until 9 a.m. and from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. serve only people over 65 and people with disabilities .
4. The use of a mask by the general population, aged 12 and over, becomes mandatory indoors and outdoors , according to instructions issued by the Ministry of Health.
5. With regard to the organization of weddings and christenings of November 13, 2020 until January 15, 2021 , prohibited the cocktail party and congratulations for weddings and christenings . Only physical presence at lunch or dinner is allowed, with a maximum of 150 people in attendance . It is understood that the maximum number of persons per table can not exceed 6 people .

Category B. Extraordinary measures in force on a nationwide basis for the period from 5 to 30 November :

1. The presence of persons in gatherings in homes and in public gathering places is allowed, except for the dining areas, with a maximum number of gatherings of 10 people per house / group , including minors.
2. The operation of the dining areas is allowed until 10:30 in the evening . Dining areas include restaurants, restaurants within hotels and other tourist accommodation, restaurants within malls, department stores and malls, taverns, cafes, pizzerias, pubs, snack bars, bars, cafes , and dining areas within canteens and / or sports clubs, cultural clubs, clubs, associations, etc. It is clarified that the above areas may provide home delivery services after 10:30 pm. The restaurants in Larnaca and Paphos Airports are excluded from the ban.
3. The maximum number of persons allowed to be served in the catering establishments is set at 75 people indoors and 150 people outdoors .
4. The maximum number of persons per reservation / table / group in restaurants, can not exceed 6 people .
5. It is forbidden to move people from 11 pm to 5 am the next day , except for travels for emergency medical reasons (from / to pharmacy, hospital) or for work purposes, with the presentation of a relevant certificate or evidence.
6. Ecclesiastical and other forms of religious worship in churches, mosques and other religious sites, as well as religious ceremonies, are performed with a maximum number of persons of 75 , in accordance with the protocols applicable to places of religious worship.
7. It is allowed to hold games in sports facilities, in the context of sports championships, without the presence of spectators , provided that the relevant protocols are observed.
8. The operation of playgrounds is allowed, with a maximum number of persons, 50 people in closed playgrounds and 150 people in open playgrounds, keeping the measure for a distance at the base of the square meters of each space. It is understood that it is not allowed to organize events in playgrounds (eg children’s birthday parties) for more than 10 people per event, including children.
9. The use of locker rooms inside gyms is prohibited .

Category C. Extraordinary measures in force in the Limassol and Paphos Provinces for the period from 5 to 16 November :

Due to the deteriorating epidemiological picture and the increased epidemiological burden that is still being recorded, and after taking into account the latest data showing that for the period 17-30 October in the Limassol District the cumulative effect is 420 people per 100,000 and the cumulative effect in the Province Paphos is 294 people per 100,000, ie they show almost a tripling compared to the previous fortnight under consideration, in addition to the measures in force on a nationwide basis, the following was decided:

1. All group sports and social activities of children under 18 years of age are prohibited (eg football, dance, swimming, martial arts, theater, choir, etc.).
2. The matches of the sports championships of athletes under the age of 18 of the teams, whose headquarters are in the Provinces of Limassol and Paphos, are prohibited . For example, if a team based in the District of Limassol or Paphos competes with a team from the District of Nicosia, the match is postponed until the end of the measures.
3. The operation of all playgrounds , open and closed, is suspended .
4. The operation of the gyms is suspended.

In addition, with the main aim of reducing the number of employees and, consequently, limiting their exposure to the virus in the workplace and maximizing the protection of their health, it is recommended to adopt a series of practices, such as the following:

1. Telework / work from home where this is possible (for example, cyclically in a significant percentage of 30-50% of the total staff, etc.) with priority given to people belonging to vulnerable groups of the population.
2. Separation and grouping of staff , so that they do not have contact with each other, with different hours during the day or with circular hours, different workplaces or otherwise.
3. Separate staff / group breaks and avoidance of common break areas.
4. Remote meetings and teleconferences and limiting as much as possible the number and length of stay of external visitors.

To this end, in consultation with the Ministries of Health and Finance, the Department of Public Service and Personnel prepares relevant arrangements for the Departments / Services, so that persons who fall into the categories of citizens with risk factors for serious illness from COVID-19 and come in contact with the public or housed in an office with more than one person and there is no possibility of keeping the appropriate distances, to be able to carry out their work in an individual workplace. In the event that such an arrangement is not possible, then such persons will be able, with the approval and in full consultation with their Supervisor, to perform remote work, where the nature of the work allows it, alternately and to the extent that will not exceed 50% of the individuals belonging to the vulnerable groups for each Service.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The health measures we take from the beginning are harsh and we know it. We have had and still have a duty to put the health and safety of every citizen above any other choice. The measures taken are preventive and repressive and we all understand what the situation would be like without the measures.

We are ready and we have a plan. We have been on alert for months to deal with increased cases in hospitals and now there is more experience in our hospitals. However, I want to reiterate once again that the possibilities of the System are not unlimited, that is why we must guard the Health System so that it can respond in case of increased cases that will require hospitalization.

Our concern was and remains the precaution of vulnerable groups, the transplanted friend, the heart-sick neighbor, our grandparents, our grandparents, who are more likely to have a serious illness.

Friends,

I address each of you individually and I ask once again for your contribution. We need to stay vigilant once again. Our goal is not to burden you psychologically. We know and experience that fatigue has occurred after this many months of fighting. Our goal at this point is to find that golden section that will allow us to coexist with the virus, always with those precautions that will have the least possible impact on our social life and our psychology.

In this marathon that we have been running all this time, we are called again to choose whether at the finish we will all be standing together or if we will leave some along the way. We take measures for our health and safety. For our protection. For the people we love. It is time for each of us to do our own introspection individually and with a sense of responsibility towards ourselves and the whole, to be stubborn again and with actions to prove that we have the seriousness and maturity to overcome this adventure as well.

Source: pio.gov.cy