USEFUL NO FOR COVID EMERGENCIES - AND REMINDER RE CONTACT TRACING

 Filenews 2 November 2020

In the call center 1412 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Monday - Friday) as well as at the e-mail address covid@moh.gov.cy, for questions regarding the protocols and guidelines in force and for general information about the crown, citizens can be contacted.

Contact the 1420 call centre is only for COVID19 emergency reporting.

Source: eyenews

CONTACT TRACING:

Following prior information on changes made to improve the process of informing virus-positive individuals and their close contacts, and in the context of the continuous upgrading of the process,the Department of Health's Tracing Team has modified the procedures in order to facilitate its work and make communication more immediate.

In particular, by informing the Contracting Laboratories to identify a case and submit the result, the Tracing Team shall communicate by text message and telephone with the virus positive person within 24 hours of the result being received.

It is noted that results are submitted and accepted only by laboratories carrying out the PCR method and have completed the process of verifying the diagnostic methodology that detects virus genetic material (RT-RCR). Laboratories that have not followed the verification process of their diagnostic methodology are not recognized by the Ministry of Health and do not submit their results to the Unit. Therefore, the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit does not receive an update. For the purpose of proper adherence to the procedure, citizens are encouraged to choose a laboratory approved by the Ministry of Health in case they wish to undergo a molecular examination for coronavirus.

When the Tracing Team communicates with the virus positive person, it sends the Unit electronically from the citizen himself a list of his close contacts, in order to initiate the investigation and forwarding to the Public Health Clinics for arranging an appointment for sampling. People who have been identified as close contacts receive a text message on their mobile phone with instructions for self-containing.

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. Self-confinement means total isolation at home for a period of 14 days from the date of contact with the confirmed incident.

After 14 days from the day of contact with the god, close contact is automatically released without it being necessary to undergo a COVID-19 test. If within 14 days of self-containing the person exhibits symptoms, then he should contact his Personal Physician for medical guidance, telling him that it is a close contact case.

As regards the handling of positive cases that remain self-contained, the Public Health Clinics communicate after the 14th day to arrange a repeat test. In accordance with the Protocol, the case shall be released when:

1. Two consecutive negative tests shall follow after the 14th day, which shall be carried out by the 21st day following the date on which positive tests were diagnosed, or

2. After the 21st day, on the basis of the Protocol, the positive case shall be automatically released, since on the basis of the studies the plasma load is low and there is no risk of transmission.

The Epidemiological Surveillance Unit makes it clear that persons who have been declared as incidents of coronavirus, regardless of whether they have obtained two negative tests before the 14th day, are obliged to remain in self-contained condition.

All citizens are invited, whether they are a confirmed COVID-19 incident, or close case contacts to comply and follow the instructions given to them by the Tracing Team. Responsible behaviour is the key to limiting dispersal in the community and preventing further outbreaks of daily incidents.