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1051. Return to lockdown not likely, Karayiannis says

The health advisory committee is keeping a close watch on the consistent crowding observed since restrictions on movement were lifted on May 21, but committee member Petros Karayiannis said lockdown measures won’t be reinstated unless Cyprus returns to a state where around 30-40 new coronavirus cases are announced over consecutive days....

1052. Clustering on first day of phase two 'not ideal', expert said

Four new coronavirus cases emerged on Friday from a bulk of 1,970 samples tested for the virus, the Health Ministry’s daily briefing announced....

1053. Second phase of relaxation of measures kicks off on Thursday

Cyprus will be making an important step toward resuming daily life as normal on Thursday, when the second phase of the gradual lifting of restriction measures is set to kick off....

1054. Empty middle seat? Depends on which country you are flying in

In Thailand, you cannot have food or water in flight and must wear a mask. In Malaysia and Indonesia, the plane needs to be half-empty. In the United States and Europe, it’s not mandatory for airlines to leave the middle seat open....

1055. Outdoor areas of restaurants, cafes to open Thursday

With the second phase of the easing of restriction measures set to be launched on Thursday, the Health Ministry clarified the food and beverage businesses we can expect to open their doors to the public....

1056. President lets man who broke curfew walk free

President Nicos Anastasiades has issued a reprieve for a man sentenced to 45 days in prison for violating curfew, following outrage by legal experts who said the punishment did not fit the crime...

1057. EU unveils guidelines for travel, tourism

The European Commission unveiled a series of measures aimed at ensuring people can start traveling safely across the continent again as governments try to revive tourism and airline industries brought to a halt by the coronavirus....

1058. New rules issued for food and beverage establishments

With all restrictions on movement to be scrapped on May 21, when gatherings of groups of up 10 people will be permitted, the Health Ministry on Monday issued new instructions for cafes, restaurants and bars....

1059. Cyprus GDP to suffer 'severe contraction' in 2020, projection shows

The University of Cyprus’ Economics Research Centre has projected that the country’s GDP is set to drop by 6.9% in 2020 under a baseline scenario and by 13.1% under an adverse scenario....

1060. Elderly woman injured while picking capers

An elderly woman who went out to collect wild capers in Paphos ended up in the hospital after falling from a height of three metres...

1061. Migrant camp near boiling point

Police said three people were arrested at Pournara migrant centre during a protest on Wednesday, one day after a hunger strike, as camp residents demand better living conditions and the right to leave camp...

1062. As coronavirus lockdown eases, Cypriots still in limbo

Deniz Birinci had just hours to stuff her and her baby daughter’s belongings into suitcases and bin bags on March 16 before the two sides on the divided island of Cyprus imposed lockdowns to halt the spread of the new coronavirus....

1063. New round of 20,000 tests on employees

The Cabinet on Wednesday agreed to launch a new round of testing for employees of businesses that are set to resume operations as part of government plans to steadily ease restriction measures....

1064. Conditions at migrant camps improving, but arbitrary detention issues remain

The UNHCR office in Cyprus said on Monday that it was pleased with the steps being taken to improve the living conditions of asylum seekers on the island, but expressed hope that additional measures will follow to tackle the multifaceted issues that emerged amid the coronavirus outbreak....

1065. Govt announces 2,000 more tests for employees

The government announced on Friday that it will be shouldering the cost of an additional 2,000 coronavirus tests for nursing home staff and employees working in the supply chain of food and beverage businesses....

1066. Report draws attention to migrant centres

A report published this week by Ombudswoman Maria Stylianou-Lottides takes stock of current conditions in migrant facilities in the Republic of Cyprus, pointing out medical challenges, problems associated with weather, and asylum issues...

1067. Cypriot food blogger drives passion home

As we experience these hard times it is difficult to identify, let alone rejoice the blessings COVID-19 will bring with it. One of them is going back to beautiful habits and rituals of home cooking which are all about togetherness...

1068. Future for rescued refugees in north unknown

The fate of 175 Syrian refugees, trapped in the north of the island amid the coronavirus pandemic, remains unknown while a human rights group is calling on Greek Cypriot authorities to take them in...

1069. Coronavirus cases rise to 716

An additional 20 people were confirmed positive for the virus on Wednesday after a bulk of 2,312 lab tests were conducted, bringing the total confirmed cases in the Republic of Cyprus to 716....

1070. World remains cautious over chloroquine

The US Food and Drug Administration is a step closer to a potential approval of chloroquine for treatment against Covid-19, while more doubts over the drug’s effectiveness and concerns over lethal side effects continue to pop up around the globe...

1071. Coronavirus death toll rises, 29 more test positive

A 79-year-old coronavirus patient died on Monday, raising the death toll in the Republic of Cyprus to 12, while 29 more people tested positive....

1072. We will defeat our shared pandemic enemy and rise stronger in its wake

The story of U.S. leadership in the global battle against Covid-19 is a story of days, months, and decades. Every day, new U.S. technical and material assistance arrives in hospitals and labs around the world. These efforts, in turn, build on a decades-long foundation of American expertise, generosity, and planning that is unmatched in history....

1073. Bill sparks kosher debate in Cyprus

Animal rights advocates are up in arms over a new government bill that would allow slaughterhouses in the Republic of Cyprus to incorporate kosher rituals, a procedure described by animal rights activists as inhumane...

1074. UNHCR steps in to ensure refugees in Cyprus receive proper protection

The UNHCR office in Cyprus has stressed that refugees must be included in the government’s planning and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, offering hands-on solutions to the myriad problems in the government’s handling of refugee and asylum procedures that have only been exacerbated by the current crisis....

1075. PHOTO GALLERY: Athens streets deserted during lockdown

Deserted squares, padlocked parks, empty avenues where lines of cars once idled bumper-to-bumper in traffic as motorbikes and scooters zoomed through the narrow gaps between. The Greek capital, Athens, like so many cities across the world, has seen its streets empty under a lockdown designed to stem the spread of the new coronavirus....

1076. Man breaks quarantine in search of meds

Health officials in Cyprus were perturbed over an incident when a self-quarantined man infected with the Covid-19 disease went out to local pharmacies in search of chloroquine, an existing drug that is still open to debate around the world...

1077. Good news for confined dog owners

Bummed dog owners in the Republic of Cyprus were relieved to hear on Tuesday that walking a family pet out in the neighbourhood would not count against a person’s limit of one outing per day under tighter coronavirus measures...

1078. Tax alert: Cyprus

1079. People stranded in Cyprus continue to be evacuated on rescue flights

Two rescue flights will be departing from Larnaca and Paphos International airports on Friday, evacuating people who were stranded in Cyprus after the ban imposed on flights due to the coronavirus pandemic....

1080. SMS service 8998 back online

The SMS service 8998 was once again up and running on Thursday morning, with replies sent back almost instantaneously in both Greek and English...