https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/communion-ritual-unchanged-in-orthodox-church-despite-virus
One by one, the children and adults line up for the centuries-old ritual of Holy Communion, trying to keep a proper social distance. The priest dips a spoon into the chalice of bread and wine, which the faithful believe is the body and blood of Christ, and puts it into the mouth of the first person in line....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-expects-600-000-tourists-by-august
The island is expected to receive some 600,000 passengers in August, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos said Thursday, noting that this estimation includes people flying in on commercial and private planes....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/greece-turkey-exchange-barbs-over-migrants
Greece on Thursday pushed back on criticism by Turkey that is violating the rights of refugees and migrants attempting to reach the country, saying Ankara has “instrumentalized human suffering”...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-to-foot-the-bill-for-infected-tourists
The Republic of Cyprus is pledging to cover all costs for anyone testing positive for the coronavirus while on vacation on the eastern Mediterranean island nation...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/demonstration-outside-refugee-camp-sparks-government-reaction
A demonstration staged outside the Pournara camp in Kokkinotrimithia on Sunday calling for an end to the arbitrary detention of hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers stirred reaction from the Government on Tuesday, with an Interior Ministry announcement claiming it won’t be allowing any further ghettoization of the island....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-moves-to-deport-suspected-terrorists
The Republic of Cyprus says it is getting ready to deport 17 undocumented migrants suspected of having ties to foreign terrorists, but proceedings could be delayed due to ongoing pandemic and other legal issues...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/police-to-step-up-checks-at-food-and-drink-spots
Police will be stepping up checks at targeted food and drink spots in the coming days to ensure that health and safety decrees are being adhered to, Police Chief Christos Andreou told the Cyprus News Agency on Monday....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/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....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/airports-to-reopen-in-two-stages-from-june-9
Cyprus on Friday worked out the details of the resumption of its tourism sector, with the Cabinet green lighting a two-stage action plan for the reopening of the Larnaca and Paphos airports....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cabinet-approves-bill-imposing-steep-rise-in-penalties-for-decree-violations
The Cabinet on Friday approved a bill seeking to see penalties for violations of coronavirus measures skyrocket, as part of government efforts to increase deterrents to disregarding decrees and regulations under the Quarantine Law as the island gradually returns to normality....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/first-steps-taken-for-the-reopening-of-checkpoints
Substantial steps were taken on Thursday by the leaders of the island’s divided communities toward the reopening of crossing points, with the two agreeing that as a first step, certain groups of people will be allowed to cross through checkpoints as of June 8....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/all-asylum-seekers-locked-in-at-pournara
Health ministry officials say going in and out of the migrant facility in rural Nicosia is temporarily forbidden due to a scabies infestation, with the government defending migration policies amid criticism over living conditions and restriction of freedom of movement at the camp...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/second-phase-of-relaxation-of-measures-kicks-off-at-midnight
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....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/migrant-camp-declared-‘local-infected-area
Human rights advocates in the Republic of Cyprus are crying foul over the government's handling of asylum seekers at Pournara camp, after the health ministry declared the migrant centre a “local infected area” citing public health laws due to an infestation...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/coronavirus-picture-remains-positive-as-island-braces-for-phase-two
Cyprus maintained its streak of minimal new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, as just one new case was announced two days before the initiation of the second phase of the relaxation of measures that will see restrictions on movement lifted....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/students-teachers-to-be-educated-on-e-learning-methods
The first classes to be offered to primary and middle school students once back at school will focus on distance learning as a method of education, Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou said Tuesday....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-records-just-one-new-coronavirus-case
Just one new coronavirus case was announced in the Republic of Cyprus on Monday, raising total known cases to 917....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/1-health-advisors-propose-cyprus-government-moves-forward-with-phase-two
New coronavirus cases in the Republic maintained their low streak on Friday as just three new cases were confirmed, but experts speaking at the Health Ministry’s daily briefing said the coming days are crucial as students are set to return to school....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/unsg-calls-on-two-sides-to-cooperate-on-pandemic-opening-of-crossings
The leaders on both sides of the Cyprus divide received a letter from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who called for cooperation in dealing with the pandemic and in lifting restrictions at crossings....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/president-seeks-input-ahead-of-big-decision
A crucial event is taking place on Friday at the Presidential Palace, as the epidemiological taskforce is meeting with President Nicos Anastasiades to assess the situation on the ground and the next steps in easing lockdown restrictions...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/pressure-mounting-toward-t-c-leadership-for-reopening-of-checkpoints
Several Turkish Cypriot groups are stepping up pressure toward the leadership in the north to reopen checkpoints as soon as possible, given that the coronavirus pandemic appears to be fully recovering on both sides of the divide....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/data-shows-cyprus-can-confidently-move-into-phase-two-of-relaxation-of-measures
Data collected so far on the island’s unfolding coronavirus pandemic indicate that the Cyprus government can move into the second phase of the gradual relaxation of restriction measures, member of the scientific group advising the government, Constantinos Tsioutis said Wednesday....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/north-and-south-touch-base-on-coronavirus
A bicommunal technical committee on health was set to convene on Wednesday to discuss the situation pertaining to the coronavirus outbreak across Cyprus, while it was not clear whether meeting would include discussion on re-opening checkpoints...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/measures-being-prepared-for-reopening-of-airports-in-june
The expert team of scientists advising the Health Ministry are coming up with measures that would allow airports to resume operation by June, Head of the Pancyprian Medical Association’s Special Committee on dealing with the coronavirus, Maria Koliou, said Tuesday....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/schools-in-the-north-sit-year-out
Officials in the north say schools will remain closed through the end of the academic year, as debate in the south rages on over the government’s decision to gradually open public schools...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/beaches-and-pools-safe-danger-lies-in-close-contact
Close contact poses a risk of transmitting coronavirus and not going to beaches, Lecturer of Internal Medicine & Infection Prevention and Control at the European University of Cyprus, Constantinos Tsioutis said Monday....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/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....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/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....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-maintains-positive-streak-as-just-two-new-cases-emerge
Cyprus maintained its positive streak on Friday after just two new coronavirus cases emerged in the Republic after the testing of 1,957 samples for the virus, while no new cases were reported in the north...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/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....