INSTRUCTIONS TO PEOPLE FOUND POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS

 Filenews 16 October 2020

The person who is informed by the microbiological laboratory that he is positive for the coronavirus quarantines himself, avoiding close contact with his relatives, immediately informs the Director and the Head of Safety and Health of his workplace, awaits instructions from the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit (MEE) and records his close contacts in order to inform the Officers of the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit responsibly when requested. Close contact is defined as contact lasting >15 minutes at a distance of <2 metres from a case with confirmed COVID-19 infection or direct contact with respiratory secretions without the application of personal protective equipment.

It is noted that in view of the heavy workload, communication may not take place on the same day, therefore it is recommended that calm and patience be shown. Under no circumstances should the positive person leave quarantine.

If in any private office and/or business and/or in any service in the public, and/or wider public sector and/or independent services and/or local authorities, a case of infection with the coronavirus is detected, the Directorate and/or the Responsible Officers designated as Safety and Health Officers shall, as they do:

• Immediate suspension of the operations of that undertaking in accordance with Decree No. 20 of 2020 (C.I.P. 183/2020).
• Immediate isolation of confirmed cases if they have not done so on their own.
• Record the names of people in the workplace who have been in close contact (definition see above) with the confirmed case. This information will be requested by the IE and the Health Services.
• Close contacts are placed in a 14-day self-restriction/quarantine and await instructions from the ISE on the place and time they will be required to undergo laboratory testing (PCR) by laboratories that meet the criteria set by the Ministry of Health. It is noted that even if the result of their test is negative they will continue their self-isolation for 14 days. It is noted that due to workload the communication may not take place on the same day, therefore it is recommended that you show composure and patience. Under no circumstances should the person detected as close contact exit self-limit.
• Removal of all personnel until the premises of the company are disinfected by an approved company. Please note that the disinfection certificate and the disinfectant license number used should be submitted to the Health Services upon completion of disinfection.

It is understood that people who have been considered to be close contacts and have a negative result in laboratory tests and after 14 days of self-regulation will be able to return to work, provided that they have not developed comatology compatible with COVID-19 infection. More information is available at the https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/.

It is also understood that if any other person in the workplace develops symptoms that refer to symptoms of COVID-19 disease, then he should immediately inform the Safety and Health Officer, who will inform him of further actions. Related instructions are listed on the https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronovirus/info.html.

The following documents should be sent by the Directorate to the Health Services in writing by the Provincial Offices of the Health Services and in order to allow the reopening of the operation, the following documents should be sent by the Directorate to the Health Services:

1. Written information indicating all the actions of the Directorate.
2. A list of the names of individuals who have been self-contained together with the results of their examinations.
3. The disinfection certificate and the licence number of the disinfectant used.

Approval for reopening will be given after examination of the above by the Health Services and the IE.

Source: eyenews