Police chief warns against complacency

Cyprus Police remain fully operational and on a state of high alert to ensure that all citizens comply with the government measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country, Chief of Police Kypros Michaelides has told CNA.

The Police Chief said that additional policing measures are being taken in areas where increased cases of the virus are being recorded and disobedience incidents are being observed.

He said that the current situation regarding the policing of the measures was assessed during a teleconference held earlier Monday with the Police leadership and divisional commanders of District Departments.

Police Chief Michaelides said the teleconference dealt with the possibility citizens becoming complacent in implementing the measures as scientists expressed moderate optimism due to the drop of coronavirus cases on Sunday.

Michaelides said that nothing has changed with regard to police checks to ensure compliance with the measures, noting that "we all feel a moderate optimism about the outcome of the situation regarding the pandemic in Cyprus. However, we as Police remain fully operational and on alert”.

The police chief said that measures are not to be relaxed warning at the same time that there should be no complacency.

He said that Police will continue to strictly monitor the implementation of measures to reduce the spread of the virus. "We continue to be at the forefront to ensure and protect the health of our fellow citizens. This situation cannot tolerate complacency», he added.

Most people, he added, have complied with the measures.