Over 1300 coronavirus checks performed at airports

Personal hygiene and voluntary restriction of social activities are of the most effective shields against the novel coronavirus, Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou said on Wednesday in a press conference shared with several medical experts.

Stressing that there is no need for panic, Ioannou said that Cyprus was taking all necessary coronavirus protection measures and was faithfully abiding by WHO and other European bodies’ guidelines.

Regarding the Government’s latest controversial move to shut four checkpoints in what it said was an attempt to perform more effective checks, Ioannou said that the measure will be re-evaluated on Friday by the Cabinet.

Ioannou said the Government is doing its utmost to prevent a potential spread, through intensive screenings at airports.

Specifically, Ioannou said that 1,343 persons who arrived on the island from countries affected by the virus have been tested at airports, with five people being placed in compulsory quarantine and a further 400 instructed to remain in isolation.

Ioannou added that by Wednesday, the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics had performed 49 lab tests to check for the virus.

A National Action Plan has also been drafted and tested with the hospitalisation of eight suspected coronavirus carriers at the Nicosia, Limassol, and Makario hospitals, which turned out negative.

Medical experts highlighted that attention has turned to the prevention of the spread of coronavirus, and as such the public must take personal protection measures.