Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou, epidemiologists and experts from the Infectious Disease Control Unit assured on Thursday the members of the House Committee on Health Affairs and the President of the House of Representatives, Demetris Syllouris, that the Ministry of Health fully complies with the guidelines of the World Health Organisation and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and is ready to address any coronavirus case.

“We are all on alert, but in no way should we allow panic to prevail” the Minister said, adding that the possibility of coronavirus spreading to Cyprus cannot be ruled out.
 
Ioannou also said that people are checked at crossing points, ports and airports through a questionnaire provided to all who enter the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. Authorities handle passengers from China who traveled in the last 14 days as possible cases, he added.
 
From his part, Syllouris, who attended part of the session, urged people to remain calm.
 
Referring to the handling of a suspected case, recently, which was eventually not confirmed as coronavirus, the Minister of Health said that it provided an indication about the state of readiness of the competent services to address these cases.
 
He said finally that Ministry services are in daily contact with the WHO and assured that they comply with the relevant protocols and procedures.
 
EU Health Ministers are expected to have a conference call on Friday, after deliberations initiated by the Minister of Health of Croatia, who has the Presidency of the Council of the EU.