Coronavirus: As cases surge, minister and advisory committee to discuss possible measures

IF the advisory committee on coronavirus deems it necessary to take further measures, their suggestions will be tabled to the cabinet, set to meet on Friday, government spokesman Marios Pelekanos said on Wednesday.

He was speaking after the Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas chaired a meeting with the advisory committee on coronavirus after daily cases exceeded 1,000 for the first time since the start of pandemic.

The health minister was briefed by the scientists on the epidemiological picture while it will be decided whether new measures should be taken to prevent the further spread of the virus.

The experts were meet ahead of a session of cabinet that was scheduled for Wednesday but was postponed for Friday.

“The necessary time has been given until Friday morning, so that if it is decided that there is a reason to take further measures, a suggestion can be made to the cabinet,” Pelekanos said.

Pelekanos said earlier cabinet is to discuss on Friday possible further measures “in order to deal more effectively with the surge in cases.”

Asked about whether another lockdown was in the cards, the spokesman called for patience until the government was briefed by the experts.

In the meantime, epidemiologist Michalis Voniatis warned on Wednesday that another lockdown, though helping to reduce cases, will not yield permanent results, stressing the need for higher vaccination coverage of the population.

“We cannot constantly shut down and open, the problem is not solved that way,” Voniatis told the Cyprus News Agency.

He said that a lockdown, in tandem with a quick-paced vaccination programme with high coverage, could yield results.

“If we continue not getting vaccinated, when activities resume, there will be a rise in cases,” he added. According to Voniatis the vaccination coverage of the population must be at least 80 per cent, even 85 per cent.

The health ministry said on Tuesday that 67.5 per cent of the population has received at least a first dose, while 57.5 per cent completed their vaccination.

According to Voniatis, the surge in cases was expected due to the relaxations of measures, the slowing down of the pace of vaccination, the arrival of the Delta variant and the fact that many people no longer observe personal protection measures.

He expressed his concern over the rise in hospitalisations and that fact that young people are being intubated.

Voniatis said he believed that restrictive measures would be difficult to impose since this would mainly affect restaurants and leisure areas which would prompt protests. “The issue is to intensify the vaccination programme, to strengthen it and for everyone, without exception, to come for vaccination if we want to be rid of this situation,” he said.

He said that if another 20 per cent of the population is vaccinated during summer, it could prevent a rise in cases in autumn. Voniatis also said that people who have received only the first dose of a vaccine are more vulnerable to the Delta variant that those fully vaccinated, and cases among this group might be recorded, of around 10 to 15 per cent.