in-cyprus 21 March 2020 -Edited by Josephine Koumettou
Another eight people tested positive on Friday night in the Republic of Cyprus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 75, and another on Saturday morning in the Turkish-held north bringing the total number of cases there to 34.
Thankfully, three patients at Famagusta Hospital in Paralimni have recovered and were discharged on Friday after subsequent tests came out negative.
In travel news, the first repatriation flight from the UK carrying 164 Cypriots landed in Larnaca in the early morning hours of Saturday, while 11 flights will depart from Paphos to the UK and Germany repatriating foreign visitors to the island, all while the government’s two-week flight ban took effect at 3 am this morning.
The Health Ministry said on Saturday that a total of 779 Cypriots that returned from abroad between March 16-21 have been placed in quarantine and another 439 are due today while 22 hotels have reached an agreement with the government to serve as quarantine facilities for those returning.
Holders of a Cypriot passport are banned from entering 16 countries according to IATA.
UNFICYP said that all new UN peacekeepers coming to Cyprus will be isolated for 14 days before starting their service.
Meanwhile, Cyprus warded off a cruise ship from India and a boat carrying 100 migrants as part of Covid-19 restrictions.
The Minister of Health told the public to ‘just stay home’ on Friday as the next few days will be critical in determining the outcome of the flood of measures enforced this month. It turns out we listened as police said on Saturday that they found no violations in the last 24 hours.
The Minister also issued a new decree on Friday setting special hours at pharmacies and supermarkets for vulnerable groups and also launched a new call centre for information.
The state asset management company Kedipes has suspended all planned foreclosures until June 30 and announced it has paid the state €90 million.
And in Church news, the island’s religious leaders said on Friday they were joined in prayer to fight coronavirus in a rare display of unity.
