?he Council of Ministers is meeting on Wednesday and as CNA learns, it is expected to take a decision to lift the mask mandate, on the basis of a suggestion by the Minister of Health.
Minister Michalis Hadjipantela is expected to propose the abolition of the obligation for the use of masks and lifting the restrictions on the number of people businesses and other places allow in their premises at the same time, according to information from the Health Ministry.
The issues were discussed during a meeting on Tuesday evening Hadjipantela had with the Advisory Scientific Committee on coronavirus, where the latest epidemiological data were evaluated and an improvement in all epidemiological indicators was recorded as well as a drop in the number of patients treated in hospitals.
According to the same information, the proposal to lift the obligation for the use of a protective mask will exclude high-risk areas such as hospitals, nursing homes, closed structures for vulnerable groups, areas providing health services (outpatient clinics, medical and diagnostic centers, laboratories, rehabilitation centers), pharmacies and mass transportation.
It will also provide that a recommendation is made for the use of a mask in public places by vulnerable groups and by those who socialize with high-risk groups.
Other suggestions include a recommendation that pupils, teachers and other staff carry out a self-test or rapid test before returning to schools and that one free self-test kit is given to children attending primary and pre-primary education.
It is also expected that it will be suggested that all places, such as dining areas, churches, stadiums, showrooms, can use again 100% of their capacity as regards how many people they let in their premises.
Source: Cyprus News Agency