Additional measures may be introduced to contain the spread of coronavirus in Cyprus, Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou indicated on Wednesday as he appealed to the public, particularly those who have travelled to countries with confirmed cases to take all measures for self-protection.
The minister issued a written statement a few hours after the ministry announced that four more Cypriots had tested positive for coronavirus bringing the total to six.
The Education Ministry has closed all schools from Friday for one week while a decree is in force until the end of the month which sets a 75 people limit at cinemas, cafes and other indoor venues.
Ioannou said that even though the number of confirmed cases recorded in Cyprus so far is low, the measures adopted from the beginning are very strict compared to the instructions of the World Health Organisation and the European Centre for Disease Control.
“The conscious decision, based on which even more drastic measures should not be excluded in the next few days in the light of the decision of the WHO to declare a pandemic, aims strictly and only to containing to the greatest extent possible, the possibility of the virus spreading in our country,” he said.
He acknowledged the disruption caused to society and the business community by many of the measures adopted but assured that with the instructions of the President the top priority was to take all the necessary measure to shield the country and the population to the greatest extent possible.
The minister said he has set up a team of scientists with the participation of independent reputable experts who assist the efforts of the epidemiological monitoring unit of the ministry.
And he again appealed to the public to follow basic rules of hygiene and take steps for self-protection, particularly those who recently travelled to countries with coronavirus cases,
Only those who exhibit symptoms should immediately contact the 24 hour call centre on 1420.
Information is available on line on the dedicated website www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus.
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https://in-cyprus.com/coronavirus-decree-sets-75-people-limit-at-cinemas-cafes-other-venues/
