He also announced a benefit of 900 euros for people of arts and culture to cover expenses incurred in the last three months. At the same time applications for student benefit have been extended until 22 May.

Speaking after the cabinet meeting, the Minister said the sample collection is a very important development for the return of students to schools in conditions of health safety. Tests will be carried out on teachers and staff as well as students and details will be announced in the next few days.

“A total of 20,000 people out of the total population of about 100,000, 1 in 5 will undergo a test so that we are really moving forward in terms of health safety,” the Minister added.

The minister also said the cabinet has approved a proposal for an urgent grant to be paid to people of culture and artists as well as those who are creative in the culture field.

A special application will be uploaded on Friday in which the terms of submission of the application by the interested parties will be described.

This way, he added, the government will support culture and provide a grant that will cover three months.

Source: CNA

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Source: CNA

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He explained that testing announced by the government will be conducted “in order to have a picture as to how many asymptomatic carriers or people with mild symptoms are around and do not think they have contracted the coronavirus.”

These are epidemiological data which we have to know and which will help us make decisions about the restrictive measures, when no more COVID-19 confirmed cases are reported, he added.

“The goal is to see how the virus has spread, what percentage may be asymptomatic and this information will help towards the end of the pandemic in order to make the right decisions on the gradual easing of restrictive measures, “ Karayiannis noted.

He pointed out that a targeted collection of samples will be made in hospitals, the National Guard and the police.

“We will worry about asymptomatic carriers when we no longer have reported cases with symptoms,” he said. When our curve reaches zero, we must make sure whether such people are moving among us, he noted, adding that this is why the government has decided to go ahead with a large sample collection in order to see what is going on, apart from Pafos and Aradippou, and elsewhere.

He continued saying that “we will have to think on how to deal with asymptomatic carriers when we decide to ease the measures.”
Karayiannis said that asymptomatic carriers are a worrying phenomenon, adding that 13% of confirmed COVID-19 cases so far has been asymptomatic.

“It concerns us even now because some of them may be hospitalized and cause a problem,” he said.

He did point out however that people with no symptoms do not transmit the virus as easily as someone with symptoms, as they don’t cough or sneeze. In order for a person with no symptoms to transmit the disease he would have to come to close contact with someone, to hug them and shake their hands. “It is more likely that such a person would transmit the disease to those close to him rather than to someone who is not in his circle,” he added.

According to studies, Karayiannis said, asymptomatic people, do not transmit the virus for a long period of time. They can transmit it for a period of about ten days and those who have the virus are likely to recover from it within 20 days, he added.

Referring to the random collection of 800 samples he explained that it is done “for statistical reasons, so that a statistical outcome which will be trustworthy will come out it.”

Source: CNA

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According to Phylactou, 300-500 samples are being tested every day. As he noted, the Institute does not face any problems in fulfilling its tasks and they have the required scientific staff and resources to conduct the tests .

Asked if Cyprus has the required consumables to carry out the tests, he noted that “there are adequate reagents for the time being”, noting that however “there is a lack of reagents worldwide.” 
 
Phylactou who is also co-chair of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health said that there is a continuous contact and exchange of information with the Turkish Cypriot community about the confirmed cases.

He also noted that the Greek Cypriot community provided to the Turkish Cypriot community some medicines that were needed. 

We are also trying to make arrangements about other similar needs in the occupied areas, he added.

Source: CNA

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