The Minister of Health, Michalis Hatzipandelas, visited the General Hospital of Famagusta, which operates as a Reference Hospital, to wish and express his practical support to the health professionals, who daily give their own battle for the best service to the patients.
Initially, the Minister of Health wished the whole world Happy Birthday and expressed the wish that 2022 be an even better year. Mr. Hadjipandelas said that “it depends on us regarding the coronation whether it will be a better year and this is due to the fact that if we decide to be vaccinated, if we decide to observe the measures of the Ministry of Health.
Today's visit to Famagusta Hospital was for two reasons, said Mr. Hatzipandelas. The main reason was to be, he said, next to the doctors next to the front line nurses, to wish them well, to spend some time with them, and to thank them for all the efforts they have been making lately.
As it appears from the results stated by the Minister of Health, our doctors, our nurses, have the best results in all of Europe and we must not forget that, he said.
The second reason for my visit was to see with my own eyes, said the Minister of Health, if there is pressure regarding the treatment of young patients in the hospital, fortunately at the moment he said there is not much pressure in the Famagusta hospital. I will visit in the afternoon, said the General Hospital of Nicosia to see what happens to the hospitalizations with the coronary artery.
Asked by a journalist about the increase in the positivity rate yesterday despite the small number of samples, the Minister of Health Michalis Hadjipandelas said “yesterday the positivity rate has increased but we must not forget that a large percentage of yesterday's cases were from our airports for he said and the increase of the percentage said and stressed that we will see the results of the cases in the next 2-3 days and then we will decide, he said. “
Asked by a journalist that this week is crucial due to the fact that there will be festive meetings of citizens, and whether the Ministry of Health will take stricter measures, Mr. Hadjipandelas said that for a new meeting with an epidemiological team and an advisory committee for review. said that it is something that will depend on today and tomorrow results said and stressed that if it appears that the cases and the rate of positivity is high, as well as hospitalizations (yesterday we saw that we had a significant reduction in hospitalizations said) if these two are increased then we will meet he said, with the advisory scientific committee to see stated whether we should take additional measures.
Regarding the condition of the hospitals, the Minister of Health stated that there is a plan to avoid any problems, I want to mention that last Wednesday afternoon a meeting was held with OKYPY and the private hospitals regarding the transfer of patients from public hospitals in private hospitals. I want to tell you, said Mr. Hadjipandelas, that a very large number of public hospitals have already been transferred to private and at the moment there are several beds that if necessary we will use them for the coronation.
Now that I have this opportunity, I want to thank Mr. Hadjipandelas, and OKYPY and the private hospitals for the cooperation they have shown in the last few days in order to transfer a very large number of patients from the state hospitals to the private ones.
Regarding the cases of Omicron yesterday, the Minister of Health stated that so far he has no information about the existence of a patient with the Omicron variant but I want to mention that since last week instructions have been given to the officials of the Ministry of Health to check those who are hospitalized. coronary hospitals to be screened to see if there are patients with the Omicron mutation.
If there are no treatments with the Omicron mutation then it is good news, said the Minister. It is an issue that we monitor daily said and expect the results of patients with coronary artery who are in public hospitals next week.
Regarding the cases of the Omicron mutation, the Minister of Health stated that most of them have a travel history, they have a travel history from Great Britain and Greece. As it seems, Mr. Hadjipandelas said, from the first moment that the specific measure for PCR control was taken by the Ministry of Health, for all passengers, it was very important because these cases are detected in time. Every day 50 cases are detected in the Cypriot airports, he said so it seems how important this decision we have taken said Mr. Hatzipandelas who stressed that for most cases there is a detailed situation in the Ministry of Health for all ages with most cases being young people and seems to be from travel history they had the previous days.
Before I finish, I would like to thank said Mr. Hatzipandelas, Dr. Amalia Hatzigianni and the nurses again in this hospital, because this hospital makes us proud not only in Cyprus but in Europe and all over the world. I want to thank them again and assure them that the Ministry of Health will be by their side if necessary.
Regarding the protests from restaurants that they have received a huge blow from the measures of the Ministry of Health, and if the Ministry is considering relaxing the measures concerning the restaurants, Mr. Hadjipandelas stated that our primary goal is the safety of the world, and I think he said that at the moment there is no question of easing the measures. Most likely if there will be any thoughts he said will be towards tightening the measures rather than relaxing them.
Regarding the planning of the vaccination centers and the walk-ins that will run this week, which is a festive period, the Minister of Health stated that tomorrow, on December 27 and 28, the Ministry of Health has planned to vaccinate students. It is a thing that we consider very right, to vaccinate our students especially before they go to foreign countries for that and we provided said. There will be walk in only for students.
Tomorrow, said the Minister of Health, there will be more than 30 thousand doses of pfizer that everyone can book their appointment through the Vaccination Portal, so there will be about 30 thousand doses of pfizer and I tell the world those who want to be vaccinated with pfizer, to enter the vaccination portal and make an appointment and at the same time the walk in will work normally after two days he said.
At the same time we have planned on January 3-4 that all children will be home to have the opportunity to go with their parents to vaccination centers that will be only for vaccination of children so that we can serve them so that there is no problem. Parents will be given the opportunity to go with their children to vaccinate them now that the children are home, said the Minister of Health.
The Scientific Director of Larnaca Famagusta Hospitals Amalia Hatzigianni thanked the Minister of Health who does as he said once again the honor to be with us and to inspire the staff. Apart from his presence here today, said Mrs. Hatzigianni, his presence is felt every day because 2-3 times a day he communicates with me at least to help the hospital function smoothly.
Special thanks to all my colleagues, medical, nursing, paramedical staff, who offer their services with great zeal, and with their expertise proved that it gives the maximum services it can provide said Ms. Hatzigianni.
Regarding the situation today, 30 patients with coronary artery disease are being treated at the Reference Hospital, of which 6 in the Intensive Care Unit, while 3 more admissions from Nicosia are expected. There are two intubated patients in the Intensive Care Unit and 80% of the patients remain without a history of vaccination. The youngest patient is 25 years old while the oldest is 90.
