Coronavirus: Improvements promised amid SafePass hassles (updated)

The SafePass introduced two days ago and the subsequent mandatory rapid tests have emerged as a major point of contention, with the government defending the policy on Tuesday amid complaints from the public.

Both President Nicos Anastasiades and Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou said that improvements to the rapid test system are expected in the following days.

Anastasiades said on Tuesday that he understands the inconvenience created for the public and pledged that improvements will be made.

“I understand the complaints of the people, and in the coming days we will see that some difficulties, either due to technical (issues) or the effort to preserve the health of the people will be dealt with effectively,” the president said.

Commenting on criticism over the way the government is dealing with the pandemic, Anastasiades said that “diminishing a distinction for your country, either in relation to Europe or in relation to the world, in terms of pandemic management, is a disgrace to those who do so.”

He called on detractors to compare what is happening in European countries or elsewhere with what is happening in Cyprus: “Lower mortality, higher vaccination rate, higher detection rate, full support and job protection, full support to those who have been affected, to the extent, of course, that finances allow us.”

Also referring people to what is going on elsewhere, Ioannou, speaking to Sigma, said that Cyprus did not invent the SafePass and that other countries are using similar methods.

The head of the bar association Christos Clerides has strongly condemned the SafePass, and its related regulations, calling it unconstitutional to which Ioannou replied that other countries have similar policies.

Looking abroad, Ioannou said that Cyprus has reopened to a far greater extent than many other nations – such as the UK and even Germany, which is in lockdown – and that the SafePass is required to reopen the economy safely.

But long queues at rapid testing sites in the increasingly hot weather have led to widespread criticism of the government’s handling of the testing system – as the government has promised to increase the number of testing sites.

Many have queried why the government does not provide businesses with the rapid tests to carry out themselves to reduce congestion as the sites, for example.

And while the economy has reopened, cafés, bars and restaurants are spooked after an unusually quiet Monday – with calls for the government to revise its SafePass policy.

Bar and restaurant owners who spoke to the Cyprus Mail have said that business on Monday was well below previous post-lockdown openings. There was a shared hope among them that the public will take a short time to adapt to the new policy – saying it is too early to draw conclusions on its long-term impact.

In order to go to a hospitality venue people need to have a SafePass; either have had at least once dose of the vaccine three weeks ago, have been ill with the virus in the last six months or have a negative test not older than 72 hours.

Some have argued that rapid tests should be valid for a week instead of the 72 hours at present, with Ioannou saying that the measures will be revised according to the epidemiological picture – without elaborating further.

There have also been differing statements from the government with some officials saying that the SafePass is only temporary while others have said that it will be around ‘long-term’.

And as for the rapid tests, Ioannou also said that it is highly likely that they will no longer be free in the coming months – as once all adults have been offered the vaccine, those who choose not to get the jab should not burden the taxpayer.