Health Minister Unal Üstel announced that instead of increasing screening and accelerating vaccination across the country as part of the fight against the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, as well as implementing closures or stricter measures due to the increase in cases, they decided to implement the “AdaPass” system domesticly to “secure” both employers and customers.
In accordance with the new decisions taken by the Upper Committee of Infectious Diseases on Thursday, he said that within the scope of the fight against the epidemic, the enterprises designated by the Ministry should register in the system by Friday (August 20th), adding that after that date, adapass application will become “mandatory” upon entry to these enterprises and they will impose fines and closure penalties on businesses that do not fulfill the practice.
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Exponential also said that in these enterprises, which are determined by taking into account the places where “contamination is most common”, the QR code on the vaccination certificate of the individuals will be read from the system, and those who are sufficient for the necessary vaccination certificate and PCR tests will be allowed to enter the places and they aim to prevent transmission with this application.
Minister Üstel stated that from tomorrow, vaccination will be reduced to 12 years and above and vaccination will be started in five centers of Near East University for the 12-18 age group, and the 3rd dose of vaccination will be started at 38 vaccination centers across the country without an appointment.
Health Minister Üstel said that students and people traveling abroad have made some recommendations to the Bi-Communal Health Committee to address their grievances arising from vaccination certificates and PCR tests, and that they expect to receive a response in the coming days.
According to the ministry’s data covering the period from January 1st to August 8th, the total number of positive patients treated at the Emergency Hospital is 9,000. Of these, 5,800 are men and 3,200 are women. According to the country’s distribution, 4,928 of the cases are citizens of the TRNC, 3,000 are citizens of the Republic of Turkey and the remaining 1,72 are third-country citizens. The number of patients staying at the hotel is 8,200. The distribution of the case by age range is as follows: 18-35 Age Range: 2,800, 36-65 Age Range: 6,000, 66-85 Age Range: 200.
Health Minister Unal Üstel, The turkish agency cyprus (TAK) has been informed about the fight against coronavirus (Covid-19), the latest situation in the vaccination program implemented in the country, measures for face-to-face education in the pandemic, the implementation of the AdaPass system in the country, initiatives to overcome the difficulties in vaccine certificates and PCR tests of students studying abroad and people traveling abroad, adapass’s integration into the EU “Digital Covid Vaccine Certificate” system and the problems in the supply of medicines to patients other than Kovid-19.
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“People act like they don’t have a pandemic”
In response to a question about whether tightening measures is on the agenda in light of the recent increase in Covid-19 cases in the country, Minister Üstel pointed out that the number of cases was announced on Wednesday at 182, but that the number of daily cases has averaged around 140 in the last week.
“You know, July 20th and Eid al-Adha are over. Although we warned people to ‘follow the rules of the pandemic’, many people have violated it. Especially in our young people’s entertainment venues and wedding centers and a number of similar places, people are still not careful to live by pandemic rules. They are right in their opinion because there are both social and economic difficulties with the problems brought about by the long-standing pandemic… Even though there are cases, people act as if there is no pandemic.”
“THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES IS DUE TO THE INCREASE IN SCREENINGS”
Minister Üstel stated that the increase in cases was due to increased Covid-19 screenings.
“In the past, there were 50-60 cases per day, with around 3,000 to 4,000 tests per day, while we now do an average of around 20,000 tests a day and find an average of around 140 cases. When you collect this over a 6-month period, you can see how much difference there is and the number of cases does not increase. In other words, you will see that the number of cases has increased with the scans.”
He noted that the july 20th and Eid al-Adha periods, and especially people’s failure to comply with the pandemic rules, were a factor in this increase.
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NO BIG INCREASE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS
He said there had been no “major increase” in hospitalizations while there had been an increase in cases, with hospitalizations now hovering around 60, but these cases were not “severe cases.” He pointed out that 20 of the 60 patients currently being treated at the Pandemic Hospital are vaccinated and 40 are unvaccinated. The more vaccines we vaccinate, the less we will reduce cases, and the more comfortable they will experience their symptoms, even if they are positive. Therefore, we accelerated vaccination.”
“ADAPASS APPLICATION IN THE SPECIFIED ENTERPRISES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ON FRIDAY”
Minister Üstel said that instead of accelerating vaccination within the scope of the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as implementing closures or stricter measures due to the increase in cases, they decided to implement the AdaPass system domesticly to “secure” both employers and customers.
ADAPASS MANDATORY
In accordance with the new decisions taken by the Upper Committee of Infectious Diseases on Thursday, the enterprises designated by the Ministry should register in the system by Friday (August 20th), he said, adding that adapass will become “mandatory” in these enterprises from this date.
Stating that the enterprises where the “AdaPass” system will be implemented are determined by taking into account the places where the contamination is most common, He said, “We wanted these enterprises where transmission is most common to register in the system by August 20th so that it is easier to check the entrances to those places. When entering a bar or business, the vaccination and test status of individuals can be controlled more easily by having the QR code read in the system.” Stating that there were some technical difficulties during registration to the Ada Pass system, He said that they have created a special unit consisting of 7-8 people within the ministry to help address these problems.
He also said that when entering the enterprises where transmission is most common, they aim to prevent transmission in these places by reading the QR code on the vaccination certificate of the individuals from the system and allowing those who have sufficient vaccination certificates and PCR tests to enter the premises.
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“FINES AND CLOSURE PENALTIES WILL BE APPLIED TO BUSINESSES THAT DO NOT REPLACE ADA PASS APPLICATION”
The Health Minister pointed out that the businesses designated by the ministry have been given until August 20th to register in the system, and that strict controls will be initiated after that date, and businesses found not to have fulfilled the AdaPass application will be fined and then fined and then closed.
“We are determined to impose these penalties on businesses that do not comply with these rules,” he said, adding that with occasional inspections by municipal, county police boards and Ministry teams, “we will ensure that everyone follows these rules in order not to close the country and the future of the country, and we will make these businesses safer.”
With the introduction of the Ada Pass system in the country, people who have not registered in the system will also be encouraged to register, he said.
He said the AdaPass system will be mandatory for businesses such as entertainment venues, casionos, hotels, bet offices, where contamination is most common, but small businesses that desire it can also implement the AdaPass system.
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Pointing out that in addition to the decision of the
Upper Committee on Infectious Diseases to expand AdaPass in the country on Thursday, the measures necessary for the start of face-to-face education in primary and secondary schools were announced in September, he said that they have done all these studies and taken measures with the aim of improving the country. “First of all, we intend to take the economy in parallel with the health and health of our people,” he said.
“The number of people with a 1st dose is decreasing every day… THE RATE OF TRANSMISSION IS LOW IN THE 18-40 AGE GROUP WHERE TRANSMISSION IS MOST COMMON”
He said the number of people receiving the first dose of vaccination in the country is “decreasing day by day,” adding that “the vaccination rate is low, especially in the 18-40 age group where transmission is most common, and they are trying to increase this rate by applying some sanctions and incentives, especially for those who go to entertainment centers, to make them more comfortable to enter these places by getting vaccinated.”
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“TOMORROW THE INVESTIGATION OF THOSE AGED 12 AND OVER WILL BEGIN”
As of Friday, 174,354 people had received the first dose and 170,917 had a second dose, 46 percent of the country’s population received the first dose and 45 percent had both doses, Minister Üstel said. He noted that 50 percent of the population is still unvaccinated, but from tomorrow (Monday) vaccination will be reduced to 12 years and older, and vaccination rate in the community can increase by 10-20 percent with vaccination of the 12-18 age group.
“We are reducing the age limit to 12 years old and we will start vaccinating 12-18 year olds, which is about 10-20 percent of the population, because we have about 25,000 young people between the ages of 12 and 18,” he said, explaining that the 12-18 age group will start vaccinating in five different centers of Near East University starting tomorrow.
Reiterating that they aim to start face-to-face education in September, He said, “We want to instill our students who will go to school and go to university and at least prevent any negativity that will occur.”
“10 percent of society is against being opened up”
Minister Üstel stated that about 10 percent of the population is against vaccination, “Vaccination increases immunity, helps it to recover more easily if you get this disease, and our biggest drug to pave the way for the country is vaccine. I believe that those who are anti-vaccination will be vaccinated after evaluating all this”, and called for vaccinations for people who are hesitated.
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“WE WILL BE 55 YEARS OLD AND OVER IN THE 3rd DOSE OF OVERDOSE FROM TOMORROW”
Minister Üstel, on the question of the application and criteria of the one dose reminder (RAPEL) vaccine to people with two doses of Covid-19 vaccine in the country, pointed out that many people in the country have the first and second dose vaccines in March, adding that “two doses of vaccines have started to be administered to people who have at least 4 months and fill a maximum of 6 the same doses.”
Health Minister Üstel stated that the 3rd dose is primarily given to the health workers who are most at risk, then applied to chronic patients and 70 and 65 years of age, and announced that from tomorrow, the 3rd dose vaccine application will be reduced to 55 years and above.
He said people aged 55 and over who want to get a third dose of the vaccine can apply to 38 vaccination centers across the country “without an appointment” starting tomorrow and register and get their vaccinations.
“WE HAVE PLENTY OF FAMILY IN OUR HANDS, I WISH WE COULD FINISH THE FAMILY IN OUR HANDS”
Exponential explained that there are plenty of vaccines in the country, that there is no shortage of vaccines, and that vaccines are sent from Turkey to the country every week within the scope of the program they agreed with Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca in Ankara in June. The brand is not very important in the vaccine, whatever vaccine you find, make it. I wish we could finish the vaccines we have and bring a new one.”
“WE HAVE SEPARATED FOR STUDENTS COMING FROM ABROAD.
WE ENCOURAGE THE ARRIVAL OF 40 THOUSAND STUDENTS”
Minister Üstel stated that they are committed to the start of face-to-face training in September, and that in consultation with the Ministry of Education, taking into account the recommendations of the World Health Organization, they have discussed the measures to be taken within the scope of the start of face-to-face training and will prepare a guideline, and that face-to-face training will start in September.
Reiterating that vaccination of the 12-18 age group, especially those who will go to secondary education, will start on Monday, He explained that they have allocated vaccines for unvaccinated students from abroad for higher education and that they will be vaccinated on university campuses. He said they hope about 40,000 students from abroad will come for higher education, noting that such a vaccine is reserved for them.
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“WE HAVE MADE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE EXPENSE OF THE VICTIMS OF STUDENTS STUDYING ABROAD AND PEOPLE TRAVELING ABROAD”
In response to a question about the EU’s access to the DIGITAL Vaccine Certificate “Green-Pass”, which allows students studying abroad and vaccinating in the TRNC to travel safely and more easily, and the attempts to address their difficulties in accepting PCR tests in the TRNC during their travels, He said:
“There is a political policy going on here. Until now, when PCR or antigen tests have been carried out, our people who have crossed into the South are both traveling and shopping. At the time they wanted to travel, they could travel to any country with these PCR and antigen tests, and by showing our vaccination card in the country they were going to, they were treated according to the country’s criteria. However, for over a week, our PCR and antigen testing has been accepted when traveling in the South, but not if you are going to travel by air or by plane. In our opinion, this is a political decision that they produce. We created AdaPass, they created SafePass. With SafePass, people move north, with AdaPass, people cross south. QR reads it and accepts it, but it prevents it when traveling abroad. With a political decision, they create problems for both our students and the people who will travel.”
Health Minister Üstel said that they have made some recommendations to the Bi-Communal Health Committee to address the grievances of students and people traveling abroad, and that they expect to receive a response in the coming days.
“WE EXPECT THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE TO INTEGRATE THE ADAPASS SYSTEM INTO TURKEY”
Regarding the work carried out on the integration of adaPass system into the digital vaccine certificate system in Turkey, Üstel said, “We also talked about these things with the technical committee when we visited Homeland Turkey a month and a half ago, and since then we have done our work, prepared our infrastructure and created AdaPass. Since July 1st, we have been waiting for the Ministry of Finance to integrate AdaPass into Turkey. A sum will be paid, we expect it to be paid.”
“Our goal is to make it a better goal. Our homeland is to integrate with the HES code of the Republic of Turkey and to make it easier for our people coming here from Turkey and Turkey to read this code, to facilitate their travel and to make it easier for businesses to get qr code read by implementing the AdaPass system in the country when they come to the country. Therefore, we have accelerated all this.”
“IF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE TRANSFERS RESOURCES, THE MAJOR PROBLEMS IN DRUG SUPPLY WILL BE ADDRESSED”
In response to a question about the difficulties in supplying certain drugs in the country, Health Minister Üstel said that there are problems in the supply of all drugs in the country, especially those of cancer patients. He said the shortage in the supply of medicines was due to a lack of budget, and that they had requested a budget from the Ministry of Finance, but so far there has been no budget transfer to the Ministry of Health.
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“There is no excuse for ‘no money’ in medicine,” he said, adding that the Ministry of Health has set aside a sum for the supply of emergency medicines for cancer patients by reviewing its own internal resources and cancelling some of its projects, but this is not enough, and they expect a budget transfer from the Ministry of Finance. “If the Ministry of Finance finds a resource and transfers it to us, the major drug problems in the Department of Medicine and Pharmacy will be eliminated with that resource,” he said.
