Government housing in Troodos, including buildings at the presidential residence in the mountain resort, will be used to quarantine individuals who have come into contact with confirmed cases of coronavirus but who have no symptoms, Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou announced on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Council of Ministers which reviewed Cyprus’ preparedness for a coronavirus outbreak, Ioannou said that three women currently in isolation at hospitals here will be moved to government housing in Troodos.
Under current protocols, individuals coming from high risk areas who have symptoms of coronavirus are taken to specially designated areas at Nicosia, Limassol and Makarios Hospitals — pending tests and remain in quarantine there.
Individuals who have no symptoms but who have been in contact with confirmed coronavirus cases are also isolated for 14 days.
Authorities had initially said they would be taking such individuals to the SEK camping site at Kannavia but backtracked in the face of objections from nearby communities.
Cabinet has now decided to use government housing in Troodos. Ioannou said that President Nicos Anastasiades had proposed — and this was accepted — that buildings at the presidential summer residence in Troodos also be used if the need arises.
The three women who had come into contact with confirmed coronavirus cases in Italy have tested negative but must remain in quarantine – two of them for 14 days and the third for one week, the minister said.
“We are also evaluating other spaces and final decisions will be taken tomorrow. We have three such sites in mind should there be a need to accommodate more people,” he said.
The minister said that the Council of Ministers also agreed to additional personnel being sent to the checkpoints for more effective checks of people crossing the Green Line.
He will also be asking for the purchase of services to send nursing staff to the checkpoints to further boost checks.
A ministerial committee is due to meet later today to discuss preparedness measures.
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https://in-cyprus.com/coronavirus-three-women-test-negative-in-quarantine-for-14-days/
