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1681. COVID still rampant despite improvement

There was some mixed news in Cyprus on Friday, after a National Surveillance Report showed COVID-19 still prevalent at high levels despite some improvement...

1682. CoronaPass tricky for some COVID survivors

People and businesses in the Republic of Cyprus were still waiting Friday for an official decree after Cabinet approval for a controversial CoronaPass, but COVID survivors with antibodies could have a hard time proving immunity after the health ministry said it would not accept self-test or home kits...

1683. Minister upset over video at vaccination facility

An increase in vaccine appointments was a welcome change of pace in the Republic of Cyprus this week, but the health minister had to call on citizens not to show up too early after reports of crowds in Limassol forming long lines out of fear that supplies wouldn’t last...

1684. Two Menoyia escapees apprehended

Two escapees facing deportation at Menoyia Immigration Detention Center were apprehended by police on Monday over a dozen miles away, following a large-scale operation including air support...

1685. Plans get blurry as Cyprus sees more deaths

Daily deaths due to COVID-19 hit a new record in the Republic of Cyprus, with seven hospitalized patients losing the battle on Easter Monday and health officials avoiding comment on what measures will replace the lockdown next week...

1686. EU makes move on vaccinated tourists

The European Union’s executive recommended on Monday that foreign citizens fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and those coming from countries with a good epidemiological situation be allowed to travel into the bloc without additional restrictions...

1687. All eyes on positivity rate after Holy Week

The positivity rate in the Republic of Cyprus registered a drop to just below 1% at the end of the holiday weekend, but officials say it is too early to know whether lockdown measures have been effective during Holy Week...

1688. Cyprus under siege as it celebrates Easter

Towns across the Republic of Cyprus were overrun with anarchists on Holy Saturday, when street fires and loud explosions dominated urban areas late into the night amid pandemic lockdown and midnight mass...

1689. Ministry issues reminder of Easter weekend exceptions

With Easter weekend around the corner, the Health Ministry issued a reminder on the small exceptions to lockdown measures for Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, but called on the public to celebrate safely and in adherence with measures in place as efforts continue to lower daily cases and hospitalisations....

1690. Third lockdown brings new support schemes totaling €120m

New support measures to the tune of €120 million to address the effects Cyprus’ third total lockdown on employees and companies were announced by the Finance and Labour Ministers on Wednesday....

1691. Jam-packed day in Geneva underway

UN chief Antonio Guterres started his day with a full plate on Wednesday, with reports saying efforts could be made to draft a joint statement in Geneva despite the two Cypriot leaders reportedly painting different pictures of their priorities during the 5+1 meeting...

1692. Stars in Al Jazeera video face committee

1693. Cyprus reduces interval between AstraZeneca doses

Cyprus on Tuesday moved to reduce the timeframe between the first and second doses of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine from 12 to eight weeks....

1694. Couple in child abuse to address court

The parents in a child abuse criminal case in Limassol will address the court next month, after the two defendants made no effort to contest evidence during the prima facie stage...

1695. Bishop’s mental fitness raised before rape trial

The lawyer for former Kition Bishop Chrysostomos, who has yet to be arraigned on rape charges, says his client is not mentally competent to stand trial, as more women speak out against the metropolitan...

1696. Lockdown begins amid legal challenges

The Republic of Cyprus entered a two-week lockdown on Monday, the start of the Holy Week for the Greek Orthodox community, with critics crying foul over some measures including proof of vaccination...

1697. Cyprus scrambles on eve of third lockdown

Cyprus' Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou has announced a two-week lockdown starting Monday, including a revision for Holy Saturday midnight mass after Archbishop Chrysostomos cried foul over rules that were 'unacceptable'...

1698. Cyprus decides lockdown in Golgotha meeting

After a tough debate amongst ministers over how the government ought to respond to a deteriorating pandemic situation, a proposal for a short and partial lockdown was approved at the last minute after the Cypriot health minister ascended his Calvary to secure a lockdown ahead of Orthodox Holy Week...

1699. Cabinet split as measures gain on lockdown

The Cabinet is set to announce later on Friday a new set of measures to curb the COVID-19 spread in the community, as daily cases continue to rise with a situation in hospitals extremely alarming...

1700. Director wants passport probe clear his name

A civil servant, whose name was dropped by the former House speaker during a secret video recording by Al Jazeera, says he did not get involved with golden passports during his tenure as director of the interior ministry, vowing to take legal action if an investigative committee failed to clear his name...

1701. Decisions on hold as Palace summons experts

The President’s Cabinet failed to reach a decision on pandemic measures following intense debate on Thursday afternoon, with reports saying an announcement was pushed back a day to give health experts time to visit the Palace for more consultations...

1702. US slaps ‘do not travel’ label on Cyprus

Health authorities in the United States have issued a “Do Not Travel” warning for Cyprus earlier this week, warning US citizens against visiting the island due to high level of COVID-19...

1703. Holy Moly ahead of Holy Week decision

The President’s Cabinet is expected on Thursday to announce a way forward ahead of Greek Orthodox Holy Week, with the health minister not favoring tougher pandemic measures but also warning a lockdown was not off the table...

1704. Experts tell government not to relax this Easter

Cyprus registered a record number of COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, reaching 941 and the numbers are only expected to increase, according to a local health expert...

1705. Cyprus tackles Russian Question as time flies

Thousands of cancelations from Russia to Cyprus in just a matter of hours are testing the island’s response to the health crisis, with companies pushing their programs later in the summer pending improvement on the pandemic front...

1706. Cypriot referral hospital full again

The Famagusta referral hospital for COVID-19 has reached full capacity in the Republic of Cyprus, with reports saying hospitalizations remained on an upward trend but the number of serious cases remained low...

1707. Man in witness protection gunned down

A man who was in the witness protection program was killed Monday night on a coastal road in Larnaca, after his vehicle was riddled with bullets in what is believed to be a mob-style hit...

1708. Greek Easter relaxation hopes put to rest

Cyprus’ current epidemiological situation is behind the government’s latest decision to freeze possible relaxation of restrictions ahead of Greek Orthodox Easter, with the administration focusing on vaccinations but also not ruling out further measures...

1709. Interim report on golden passports delivered

An interim report on the golden passport scandal in the Republic of Cyprus says just over half of citizenships granted by the executive branch were not approved lawfully...

1710. Cypriot Cabinet gets AstraZeneca ‘group shot’

Members of the President’s Cabinet got the AstraZeneca shot in front of cameras on Thursday, in a publicity stunt aimed at boosting confidence among members of the public...