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1801. Trump declares coronavirus outbreak a national emergency

President Donald Trump said Friday he was declaring a national emergency -- "two very big words" -- to free up $50 billion in federal resources to combat coronavirus, part of a raft of new measures Trump hopes can bring a roiling health crisis under control....

1802. President: Partial lockdown of airports, schools to remain closed until April 10

President Nicos Anastasiades addressed the nation on Friday night after the week saw cumulative confirmations of coronavirus cases across the divide....

1803. Coronavirus thrusts Cyprus into consumerist frenzy

The coronavirus outbreak has brought on a widespread consumerist frenzy across the island. Market research by Kathimerini found that retailers saw a skyrocketing of sales to the tune of over 400% compared to the corresponding period last year, even surpassing sales during the Christmas period....

1804. New coronavirus information hotline set up

The Ministry of Health launched a new hotline (1450) on Friday to cater to people seeking information on coronavirus, as recent days saw a widespread misuse of the 1420 call centre that was set up for the reporting of symptoms so that checks may be conducted on suspected cases....

1805. EU to launch €37bn coronavirus investment initiative

The European Union will launch a 37 billion euro investment initiative as part of a package of measures to cushion the bloc’s economies from the impact of coronavirus, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday....

1806. Suspension of all football leagues until end of March

1807. Police clamp down on violations of mass gatherings ban

Cyprus police have ramped up efforts to crack down on any violations of the ban on indoor public and private gatherings of over 75 people, enforced through a decree issued by the Health Minister in a bid to contain the coronavirus outbreak....

1808. Additional COVID-19 protection measures announced in the north

Turkish Cypriot ministers agreed on several additional coronavirus protection measures on Friday during their third emergency session on the unfolding pandemic....

1809. Health Ministry issues revised travel guidelines

The Ministry of Health has released revised travel advice to travellers concerning the novel coronavirus, with effect as of Saturday, March 14....

1810. Royal visit postponed amid coronavirus outbreak

The Royal visit to the island of Prince Charles and Camilla, who were set to arrive on March 18, was postponed on Friday amid an escalating coronavirus outbreak....

1811. Confirmed cases continue to rise, total reaches 14

The coronavirus outbreak continued to grow on the island on Friday after four additional coronavirus cases were confirmed, raising the total to 14 in government-controlled areas, while three new cases in the north raised the figure to five....

1812. Officials get a grip on coronavirus rogue cases

Initial lab results show that the state doctor who tested positive for the coronavirus appears not to have infected his patients, while health officials have managed to track down some passengers of an infected taxicab driver...

1813. President to address nation on coronavirus

Cypriot president to announce social and economic measures to combat coronavirus spread before summer tourism...

1814. Cyprus wakes up to more coronavirus cases

More cases in Cyprus were confirmed with the novel coronavirus on Thursday, while new guidelines have been issued on both sides of the divided island...

1815. Cyprus confirms three new coronavirus cases, total hikes to 10

The Republic of Cyprus saw three additional confirmed coronavirus cases on Thursday evening, raising the total to 10. A second COVID-19 case was also confirmed in the north earlier in the day...

1816. Second COVID-19 case confirmed in the north

The husband of the north’s first confirmed coronavirus case tested positive for the virus on Thursday, raising the number of cases in the north to two....

1817. UNFICYP urges cooperation in addressing coronavirus emergency

UNFICYP called on the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides to maintain communication and cooperation in addressing the coronavirus health emergency, and expressed its readiness to assist toward this end....

1818. Main hospitals partially resume operations, blood banks low

The island’s two main hospitals partially resumed operations on Thursday when coronavirus cases rose to seven after a person who recently returned from the UK tested positive....

1819. EU slams Trump’s Europe travel ban

The European Union has slammed the new anti-virus travel ban announced by US President Donald Trump, lashing out at an “unilateral” decision taken “without consultation.”...

1820. Schools to be disinfected while closed

1821. Greece to treat violation of Covid-19 protection measures as a crime

The violation of measures dictated by the authorities to contain the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus should be treated as a crime and prosecuted, the Supreme Court said on Thursday in a memo to the country’s prosecutorial services....

1822. Confirmed coronavirus cases rise to seven

Cyprus recorded a new confirmed case of coronavirus on Thursday, involving a person who had recently returned from the UK....

1823. Turkish Cypriots close two crossings

Turkish Cypriot authorities have shut down two crossings on Thursday for ten days, following the latest developments with the coronavirus pandemic...

1824. Spike in coronavirus cases expected, CING Molecular Virology head says

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases will now begin to rise, the head of the Molecular Virology department of the Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Christina Christodoulou, said on Thursday, noting that a constant flow of samples are coming in to be checked from across the island....

1825. Infected cabbie’s grandson tests negative

A young child has been hospitalized in Nicosia after coming in contact with his grandfather, a taxicab driver in Paphos who tested positive for the coronavirus...

1826. Cyprus scrambles as WHO declares pandemic

The World Health Organization has classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic, calling for “urgent and aggressive action” after the coronavirus spread in 114 including Cyprus and Turkey while Greece reported its first fatality...

1827. Greece reports first coronavirus death

Greece reported its first fatality from a coronavirus infection on Thursday, after an elderly man traveled on a Christian pilgrimage with dozens of others in his group...

1828. Officials search for infected taxicab passenger

State authorities in the Republic of Cyprus are on full alert after four more coronavirus cases were confirmed on Wednesday, with health officials scrambling to track down passengers of a taxicab driver who tested positive...

1829. All schools islandwide to close their doors on Friday

All schools islandwide will be shutting their doors as of Friday for one week, as per the decision taken on Wednesday by the Education Ministry in a bid to contain the coronavirus outbreak, as cases spiralled to six in government-controlled areas....

1830. Government to step in with financial injections

The Finance Minister is expected to announce a bundle of support measures for companies, consumers, and workers affected by the coronavirus outbreak on the island....