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1891. UNFICYP ready to facilitate discussions for easing of restrictions at checkpoints

UNFICYP said Thursday it stands ready to “facilitate and support” disscussions between the two sides of the divided island once efforts begin for the easing of restrictions at crossing points....

1892. Cyprus President and Greek Premier discuss handling of the pandemic

President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Premier Kyriakos Mitsotakis shared a telephone call on Monday to exchange views on the handling of the coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath....

1893. The four phases of Cyprus' lockdown exit roadmap

The Health Minister on Thursday gave a detailed overview of the four phases of Cyprus’ lockdown exit roadmap, which will be subject to adjustments based on how well the island responds to the gradual easing of restrictions....

1894. Lifting restrictions signal progress, but concerns high over relapse

Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou said Wednesday that with the island moving toward recovering from the coronavirus outbreak, the gradual lifting of measures set to begin next week is a testament of the progress being made, but it also a source of intense concern over a potential relapse....

1895. Cyprus announces 'timid first steps' in easing restrictions

In a televised national address on Wednesday night, President Nicos Anastasiades presented the detailed plan of the first two phases of Cyprus’ lockdown exit plan, with the first phase, which will see a timid resumption of the economy and a small loosening of restrictions on individual freedoms, set to begin on May 4....

1896. 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....

1897. 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....

1898. Greece condemns Turkey’s drilling intentions in Cyprus’ EEZ

Greece on Tuesday condemned Turkey’s announced intention to continue drilling inside Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), saying it ignores calls by the international community to respect international law....

1899. Lockdown weighs heavily on Orthodox Christians during Easter

1900. President: mistakes, complacency over Easter will mean restrictions drag on

Addressing the nation anew on Thursday, President Nicos Anastasiades said that this weekend, which marks the Greek Orthodox Easter, will test the island’s population but stressed the need for absolute compliance with restriction measures so that it can remain feasible to begin a gradual lifting of the measures as soon as possible....

1901. Twitter unfreezes Chinese ambassador account

China's ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus was back online Wednesday night after Twitter unblocked his account following a two-day freeze...

1902. Health expert estimates Cyprus may be free of virus by early May

Health expert Leondios Kostrikis estimated on Friday that judging by the progression of the island’s coronavirus curve, we should be free of the virus by early May, though the timeframe depends on the effectiveness of the measures taken, the public’s response, and the elimination of imported cases....

1903. 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...

1904. Easter church services to take place behind closed doors

Church services to mark the Orthodox Easter will take place behind closed doors, Archbishop Chrysostomos assured President Nicos Anastasiades in a meeting held at the Presidential Palace on Thursday. ...

1905. Coronavirus derails southern Europe's clean-up from the last crisis

This year was meant to mark a turning point for Greek and Italian banks as they finally laid the ghosts of the financial crisis to rest. Then the coronavirus struck....

1906. NGOs raise alarm over inhumane conditions at overcrowded migrant camp

Two migrant and refugee support NGOs, Cyprus Refugee Council and Caritas Cyprus, have raised the alarm over the inhumane conditions that have developed in the Kokkinitrimithia camp, particularly since the coronavirus pandemic broke out on the island....

1907. Employers and Employees in the age of Covid-19: A looming battle

In modern times the world community has not faced a situation like the present, created by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Republic of Cyprus is among many countries fighting desperately to minimize damage on all fronts....

1908. Baby boy born to mother positive for coronavirus tests negative

A baby boy born to a woman who was carrying coronavirus tested negative for the virus....

1909. Fight against pandemic hangs in the balance

Authorities in the Republic of Cyprus are closely monitoring the effectiveness of stricter measures against the spread of the coronavirus, with health experts saying more cases resulting from lack of social distancing are now starting to emerge...

1910. Cyprus okays drugs with one big caveat

The Cypriot health minister says a special committee is moving forward with procedures to make drugs available against the COVID-19 disease, while warning that no medicines have been approved for treatment of the novel coronavirus...

1911. Ward to treat suspected COVID-19 cases opens in Paphos General Hospital

A ward to deal exclusively with suspected coronavirus cases was placed in operation on Monday at the Paphos General Hospital....

1912. Cooperation and Transparency Needed to Fight COVID-19

In today’s age of social media, it has unfortunately become normal to see false information reach a broad audience instantaneously through the Interne...

1913. Cabinet approves bill allowing courts to jail violators of Covid-19 decrees

The Cabinet on Thursday approved a bill allowing authorities to impose €150 fines on violators of the decrees issued on the basis of the Quarantine Law, while a second bill given the green light authorizes certain cases to go to court which will be able to impose a prison sentence and/or a fine of up to €3,000....

1914. 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...

1915. Persons travelling for permitted reasons to fill in a form or send SMS

During the partial curfew to be enforced at 6pm on Tuesday for three weeks, those wishing to leave their home or shelter for any of the reasons falling under the exceptions to the travel restriction must either fill in a special form or send a text message to 8998....

1916. Travelers speak of horror under quarantine

Dozens of travelers who arrived in Cyprus without a required health certificate for the coronavirus say they were hurried to the mountains in the dead of night and treated like “criminals” and “lepers"...

1917. 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....

1918. 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....

1919. 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....

1920. 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.”...