Covid round-up,
THE Health Ministry’s Communicable Diseases High Committee has scrapped requirements for people who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or who have had the disease between 30 and 180 days ago to provide negative coronavirus test results to enter certain places.
The tougher rules, which also applied to non-vaccinated people, had been announced on July 8, when a then record 133 new positive cases were reported.
However the Health Ministry back peddled four days later after huge queues formed at PCR test centres. People had to wait outdoors in temperatures of up to 40C in some places, with the number of parasols and other shaded areas insufficient.
The number of daily Covid tests being conducted has risen from around 8,000 a few weeks ago, to more than 20,000 in recent days.
A written statement from the Health Ministry on Monday said that PCR or antigen tests from the last 72 hours would only be required from people who are not vaccinated when entering the following areas: Hotels/casinos; the indoor areas of restaurants, patisseries, cafes and taverns; bars and clubs; the indoor areas of coffee shops, coffee houses, cafeterias and clubhouses; internet cafes; betting shops; night clubs; theatre, concert, exhibition shows by professional artists; cinemas; outdoor and indoor sports halls; swimming pools; boxing, wrestling, and close combat sport competitions; competitions to be held outdoors; indoor gyms (fitness, individual); amusement parks, tombala and similar activities; group dances, ceremonies, festivals, music, and similar events; places of worship.
The announcement did not specify if the test requirements for unvaccinated people also apply to children, or provide any guidance to business and venue owners as to how they should enforce the rules.
Those queuing up for PCR tests this week described the process as “torture” and complained that the number of tests centres or level of staff should have been increased. They also demanded that contact cases be
tested at locations separate from the rest of those being tested.
“If one of the contact cases is positive, those waiting here will also be at risk,” one person said. “Proper prevention and effective control are essential if we want to fight the virus. Otherwise, infection will increase even more. We will not be able to stop it.”
Endless lines formed at state-run PCR test centres in Lefkoşa’s Fairground Area and Mücahitler Sitesi and the Özyalçın PCR and vaccination centre in Girne, where tests are administered free of charge, and at Gazimağusa State Hospital. The Girne centre reportedly ran out of test kits due to “excessive demand” on Monday and police had to be called in to prevent any trouble. A brief argument broke out between the “citizens and health and security officials”, it was reported.
One disgruntled member of the public said: “We waited in line for hours here. Just as it was our turn, they ran out of test kits. There is no system, no order . . . They made a decision that we have to take a PCR test, but they didn’t prepare for it.
“It’s already difficult to take time off from work anyway, and we couldn’t even get a test done. How is this possible?”
There were also reports of fights breaking out in queues as some people tried to jump in front of others.
Another person queuing up said: “They made these PCR tests mandatory so we don’t get the virus and to protect us but here, while waiting in line under the sun, we can have a brain haemorrhage at any time.”
Health Minister Ünal Üstel said that the Health Ministry “continues its services in the fight against the pandemic by using all its means and capabilities”.
He noted that in accordance with the new measures required by the increasing number of cases, some “improvements and precautions” have been taken regarding overcrowding seen at the centres where tests are performed.
Mr Üstel said that in order to reduce overcrowding, the Health Ministry is working with 45 private laboratories, that can provide rapid antigen tests, since June 7.
He said that the Covid-19 antigen tests are carried out free of charge in private laboratories contracted by the Health Ministry.
“When entering the online services section on the official Health Ministry website, the process starts with the rapid antigen test online application option,” he said in a statement issued on Monday.
“By following the directions, the existing system will refer you to a laboratory for the necessary antigen test.
“The rapid antigen test result documents can be obtained from covid-19.gov.ct.tr by entering the barcode number, ID or passport information and the report can be obtained in a pdf format.
“In case of any problems on our website, rapid antigen tests will be performed by going to contracted private laboratories, provided that you register there.
“In the face of the increasing demand for vaccines and tests, it is natural to experience some temporary problems since our ministry cannot increase its personnel and technical means.
“I would like it to be known that there is no real increase in the number of healthcare personnel who undertake the tasks of performing and supervising the number of PCR tests now exceeding 15,000 per day and administering around 2,000 to 3,000 vaccinations per day.
“In the meantime, our services will continue uninterrupted towards a positive contribution to the health of our people.
“We will respond to the people’s expectations by increasing the new vaccine and rapid antigen/PCR centres and improving the facilities.”
PEOPLE who have completed their Covid19 vaccinations can create a “vaccination document” by entering their details into a new website called adapass.gov.ct.tr, the Health Ministry announced on Thursday. The document can then be printed or saved in a pdf format.
“If you encounter a problem during the process, you can get help from the 111 call centre,” it added.