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1801. Government orders extension of checkpoint closures

The closure of all schools in Nicosia for three days, a ban on events and gatherings of over 75 people until March 31, as well as an across the board cancellation of all public events such as concerts and parades, are only some of the measures agreed by the Cabinet on Thursday in a bit to contain the coronavirus outbreak on the island....

1802. All samples from hospital contacts of coronavirus carrying doctor negative

All 152 samples taken from the contacts of the 64-year-old state doctor who tested positive for coronavirus emerged negative for the virus, the Health Ministry announced Tuesday evening....

1803. Updated guidelines for arrivals from high-risk countries

Updated guidelines for travellers were issued on Tuesday afternoon by the Health Ministry, which bumped the UK from a Category 2 high-risk country to Category 3, reportedly due to fears of massive economic implications....

1804. Cyprus President cancels official visit to Austria

The President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, cancelled his two-day official visit to Austria....

1805. EU drugs regulator say no shortages yet, steering group to monitor

The European Union’s healthcare regulator said that no drug shortages or supply disruptions have been reported in the region but that an EU steering group had convened to prevent supply bottlenecks due to the coronavirus outbreak....

1806. 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....

1807. Nicosia schools temporarily closed as coronavirus measures stepped up

Schools across the Nicosia district were temporarily suspended on Tuesday, Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou announced. ...

1808. The north in turmoil after first coronavirus case

The north was hurled into turmoil on Tuesday after confirming its first coronavirus case, with authorities in the north moving to place hotels in lockdown, health services placing tens of persons in isolation, and the ‘government’ shutting primary and secondary schools until March 16, with universities in the north being the next possible target of intervention....

1809. Cyprus tries to find footing after virus cases

Authorities on the divided island of Cyprus are scrambling to cope with the first three confirmed cases of the coronavirus, while a doctor and a young man in the south are feared to have spread the infection far and wide...

1810. First coronavirus case confirmed in the north

The third case of coronavirus was announced on the divided island of Cyprus, after a foreign visitor was confirmed with the coronavirus infection in the north...

1811. Nicosia doctor with coronavirus speaks out

A state doctor in Cyprus who was diagnosed with the coronavirus infection on Monday says specialists “discouraged” him from taking a test sooner, while the EU Health Commissioner calls for calm as Cypriot authorities begin tracing the physician’s contacts from last week...

1812. Second COVID-19 case reportedly the head of Nicosia General Hospital unit

Following the announcement of the island’s first two confirmed coronavirus cases, the Health Ministry said it had on Monday night began tracing the contacts of the 64-year-old medical practitioner....

1813. Health Minister: Two test positive for coronavirus

Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou announced on Monday that two out of the 50 tests conducted on suspected coronavirus carriers emerged positive for the virus, but urged the public not to panic and to follow personal hygiene guidelines....

1814. Cyprus confirms two coronavirus cases

The island’s first two confirmed coronavirus cases were recorded on Monday, Health Ministry sources said...

1815. Cyprus preparing for influx of arrivals during Easter

Cyprus authorities are preparing for all possible scenarios in relation to the spread of coronavirus ahead of the Easter holidays next month, when more people are expected to travel. ...

1816. Union calls on authorities to show caution after three on-duty T/C journalists injured at Saturday protest

The Union of Cyprus Journalists called on the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus to show caution in the presence of journalists, after three on-duty Turkish Cypriot journalists required hospital treatment following the spraying of tear gas at the Ledra checkpoint protest on Saturday....

1817. No coronavirus risk from holy communion, says Holy Synod

Amid fears of a broader coronavirus contagion across the country, the Holy Synod, the ruling body of the Greek Orthodox Church, on Monday issued a statement saying that the disease does not transmit through the distribution of holy communion by the chalice....

1818. No spectators at Tokyo 2020 Games torch lighting ceremony

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics torch lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia will be the first in more 35 years to be held without spectators after organizers on Monday introduced tighter measures to protect against the coronavirus....

1819. Anastasiades participates in teleconference on COVID-19

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades participated on Monday along with seven other heads of government in a teleconference to discuss measures to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. ...

1820. Young baby tests positive in Nicosia

A young infant tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday evening in Nicosia, while COVID-19 lab test results were still pending for another baby...

1821. The era of asymmetric threats

Kyriakos Mitsotakis would never have expected to star in a Greek edition of the perfect storm. Yet fate and events have put the Greek prime minister in charge of the country at a very crucial moment. He has shown determination in dealing with the migration/refugee issue, which has also bolstered his political image. The public was craving for a strong leader – a notion that was largely eclipsed by a sense of humiliation over the past 10 years....

1822. UN police block protesters at Ledra checkpoint

UN police in Cyprus were taking no chances at the Ledra checkpoint on Monday, blocking Turkish Cypriot demonstrators in the north who wanted to bring flowers to Greek Cypriot riot police behind fortified barricades in the south...

1823. Cyprus scrambles to contain coronavirus risk

A police station and an army camp in Nicosia went under quarantine on Sunday following two suspected cases of the coronavirus, with health officials on the edge of their seat waiting for lab test results for over 30 individuals...

1824. Police hold the line at Ledra checkpoint

Greek Cypriot police at Nicosia's Ledra crossing thwarted a barricade breach by Turkish Cypriot protesters on Saturday, as demonstrations against the checkpoint shutdown continued on both sides of the divided island...

1825. Eight Turkish Cypriots rushed to hospital after Ledra checkpoint protest

Protesters gathered on both sides of the Ledra Street divide on Saturday to demonstrate against the closure of four checkpoints by the government of the Republic of Cyprus, a move it said was part of a bundle of coronavirus protection measures but which has been criticized as a measure veiling ulterior political motives....

1826. Soldier quarantined in Cyprus 'high risk' case

A Greek soldier has been quarantined in Cyprus after a trip he took to visit his family where his mother tested positive for the coronavirus...

1827. Suspected COVID-19 carrier quarantined at Limassol hospital

The Health Ministry’s Epidemiological Surveillance Unit announced on Friday it was investigating a possible case of a coronavirus involving a soldier who was quarantined at the Limassol General Hospital after showing symptoms similar to a respiratory infection....

1828. British Bases: No plan to shut Pergamos, Strovilia crossings

1829. Greece reports 14 new Covid-19 cases; total reaches 45

Greek authorities on Friday announced that 14 more people have tested positive to the new coronavirus, adding the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 45. ...

1830. Anastasiades dubs UNFICYP position 'unfortunate' intervention

President Nicos Anastasiades on Friday described the statement issued by UNFICYP as “unfortunate”, noting that such announcements go beyond its mission as a peacekeeping force....