The Ministry of Health on Wednesday decided on a set of measures to limit the rising number of COVID-19 cases after the holiday season.
The measures were announced following a meeting between Health Minister Dr Popi Kanari and the Scientific Monitoring Committee for COVID-19, which took place this afternoon.
Effective immediately, individuals entering hospitals, medical practices, and elderly care facilities are mandated to present a rapid test conducted within the last 48 hours, as opposed to the previous requirement of 72 hours. Additionally, the use of masks remains compulsory in these settings.
Furthermore, the use of masks is strongly recommended in all indoor spaces to curb the potential spread of the virus.
According to philenews, the 48-hour rapid test requirement applies to all professionals and visitors accessing these facilities. Weekly sampling checks will be reintroduced for nursing homes and closed structures. The Ministry of Health will also intensify vaccination efforts for elderly care facilities, where the current vaccination rate stands at only 18%.
The Ministry, led by Director-General Christina Yiannaki, will undertake visits as part of the initiative to boost vaccination rates among the elderly population. Additionally, the Ministry aims to enforce existing regulations that, despite being in place, are not consistently adhered to.
During the meeting, healthcare experts presented the current situation, indicating that hospitalisations have risen to 82, with three patients in intensive care. This marks an increase from 60 hospitalisations reported the previous Monday. No data on fatalities was provided during the briefing.
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