Coronavirus: Cabinet to take new decisions Friday night, no ‘bracelets for unvaccinated’ (updated)

Cabinet will convene on Friday evening to discuss proposals on expediting the vaccination programme and other suggestions on tackling the pandemic, government spokesman Kyriacos Koushos said on Tuesday.

Both President Nicos Anastasiades and Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou said a return to strict measures was not currently on the cards.

Ioannou said the government had no intention of imposing stricter restrictions despite the spike in daily cases and would instead proceed with targeted actions to make sure that social interaction will take place safely.

The minister also said they were considering providing incentives to encourage people get vaccinated. Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos said on Monday that all ministries were asked to submit proposals on the matter with him being in favour of giving vaccinated people some incentives.

Ioannou said that the government was also considering bringing back the SafePass for outdoor congested areas or areas with increased risk such as bars, clubs, wedding venues, graduation parties etc.

He explained that the ministry is encountering problems with contact tracing in such areas where apparently no safety measures are observed.

“There many reasons behind this, pandemic fatigue and other reasons,” he said, noting the authorities are constantly calling on people to comply with personal safety measures.

Anastasiades had called on people under 40 to get vaccinated citing the low percentage of vaccinations among this age group. He said that 70 per cent of those under 40 are unvaccinated.

Koushos also refuted the idea of the possible use of a bracelet for people who have not been vaccinated.

Anastasiades, when asked on Monday evening whether the government was thinking of having people who are not vaccinated wear a special bracelet, he said: “We will think about it.”

But Koushos said it was not on the cards.

“The government is not considering such a possibility,” Koushos said on Tuesday.

According to Koushos the ministerial committee responsible for Covid-19 will meet to consider the recommendations of the epidemiolgical advisory committee, the epidemiological picture of the country and measures to speed up the vaccination programme.

The suggestions of the ministerial committee will be presented to the cabinet which will meet on Friday at 7 pm “for decision-making,” Koushos said.