in-cyprus 24 March 2020 - Josephine Koumettou
These are the businesses that will remain open and those that will close following the President’s lockdown announcement on Monday night in effect from 6 pm on Tuesday March 24 until 6 am on April 13:
REMAIN OPEN:
Vital businesses that will remain open are food and drink sellers (supermarkets, grocery stores, butchers, fishmongers, bakeries, pastry shops, wine cellars), pharmacies, gas stations, establishments that provide food and drink services provided they do so by delivery (restaurants, coffee shops, bars), establishments providing drive through services, kiosks and mini markets.
Also open will be private health services (clinical labs) and car wash businesses, given they apply all announced prevention measures.
The above services are not allowed to sell products sold by retail companies whose operation is suspended.
BUSINESSES WHOSE OPERATION IS SUSPENDED:
-Any form of open markets, bazaars and street vendors
-Building sites with the exception of social utility projects that will obtain a special permit from the Minister of Transport
-Gatherings at churches, mosques and other prayer establishments is prohibited
-The Easter tradition of ‘Lambradjia’ [bonfire] is prohibited and any such preparations will be removed by police
-The operation of all retail businesses is suspended except for the following:
Businesses and workshops of disabled and orthopaedic merchandise
Businesses and workshops of medical and industrial gases and machinery
Opticians and their workshops
Businesses selling hearing aids
Car and motorbike workshops
Businesses selling tyres
Businesses selling and repairing bicycles
Dry cleaners
Courier services
Businesses selling pet food or vet medicine
Telecommunication providers (for bill payments, renewal of credit, repairs and replacements of mobile devices)
Businesses selling pesticides, fertilisers and other agricultural equipment
Businesses selling cars and motor vehicles
Funeral offices
Flower shops and plant nurseries
All retail businesses, including the above, are allowed to provide electronic or telephone commerce services with home delivery.
All retail businesses that are allowed to remain open should abide by all measures announced to prevent the spread of Covid-19, including ensuring that no crowding takes place inside stores (one person per 8 m2).
And from Cyprus Mail 24 March 2020:
And from Cyprus Mail 24 March 2020:
Retail business is suspended from 6pm on Tuesday with specific exceptions, according to the decree issued in the aftermath of the government’s announcement of a three-week lockdown.
The exceptions apply to businesses and workshops for medical equipment, (wheelchairs, orthopaedic products, medical, industrial gas and machinery, optical companies, hearing-aid companies, car and motorcycle dealers, tyre dealers, bicycle sales and repair companies, launderettes, courier services and pet shops).
Businesses that sell pesticides and fertilisers, material and equipment, car sales, funeral homes, nurseries and florists are also exempt.
It notes that the above businesses, if they prefer, can provide online or delivery sales.
In addition, those businesses that are open according to the decree, must comply with the crowd ban within stores, that is, one person per eight squares meters.
Businesses that can remain open are all food and beverage retailers (supermarkets, grocery stores, butchers, fish markets, bakeries, pastry shops, fruit markets, cellars), pharmacies and food service providers ( restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, bars), which can offer delivery services and quick service from the window (drive through), gas stations, kiosks and mini markets. Clinical laboratories and car wash can also be open.
Open markets, street sales and bazaars are not allowed to operate as well as construction unless they are public interest projects which require permission issued by the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works.
Worshippers are prohibited from entering churches, mosques and other places of worship.
