Church services across the island suspended, President informs Archbishop

Church services are included in the list of public gatherings of over 75 people that are to be suspended as part of ramped-up coronavirus protection measures, Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou confirmed on Tuesday.

President Nicos Anastasiades relayed the news to the Archbishop prior to the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, stressing that the situation is dire and requires that strict measures are taken to prevent a further spread of coronavirus which hit the island on Monday.

The move to suspend church services across the island came as a result of a decision taken by the Cabinet on Tuesday to ban all gatherings in closed spaces of over 75 people.

The decision also featured a spectator ban for upcoming football matches, and the temporary closure of all Nicosia schools.

The Holy Synod is expected to issue its response to the move on Wednesday, the Metropolitan Bishop of Paphos and Holy Synod spokesperson, Georgios Papachrysostomou, told Kathimerini.

The Paphos Metropolitan Bishop said his position on the matter is that there should be no change to the way the Christian faith is practiced.