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Ladies and gentlemen,
When we announced the last
package of measures on the 27th of November, we had left the door
open for a partial de-escalation of some of the restrictions in view of the
holiday season, provided that the epidemiological picture would allow it. We
had also warned about the possibility of bringing back stricter measures if
the situation was to deteriorate. The facts that we have before us leave us
with limited options.
As you are all aware, during
the last few days there has been a deterioration of the epidemiological
indicators, the worst since the pandemic broke out. The cases are rising and
many of our fellow citizens are in need of hospitalization.
Unfortunately, some of them have passed away. There is a relative
stabilization in hospitalizations, but we cannot be complacent. We are
concerned about the continuous increase in positive cases as they are being
recorded by the rapid (antigen) tests across Cyprus. This outcome indicates
that the virus is everywhere, in every town, village and district. We want to
suppress its further spreading before it is too late. This is why our
efforts, over the next few days, will be extended to indoor areas that have
large crowds and are of high risk.
Taking into account the above,
on the basis of the suggestions by the experts, the Council of Ministers has
decided the extension
of the validity of the current measures and their reinforcement with the
following additional measures, which will take effect on Friday 11 December, at 6 in the
morning:
1. The operation of malls is suspended. Superstores, department stores and
large stores over 500 sq.m. (excluding food retail, i.e. supermarkets) will
operate in compliance with the measure of 1 person per 10 sq.m. and with a
ceiling on the number of customers.
2. The operation of catering establishments is suspended. This measure concerns
restaurants, taverns, cafés, pubs, snack bars and bars, cafeterias and
catering establishments within canteens and / or sports clubs, cultural
clubs, associations, etc., with the exception of their delivery and take away
services. It is understood that after 9 p.m. only home delivery is permitted.
Catering establishments within
hotels and tourist accommodation facilities may operate until 9 p.m. serving
only the guests who are staying overnight in those premises. Catering
establishments within the Larnaka and Pafos Airports are allowed to operate.
3. Church services and other forms of religious worship in religious sites shall be performed
without the presence of congregants. Religious ceremonies (weddings,
christenings, funerals) are permitted with a maximum of 10 persons attending.
4. As of next Monday, 14 December, lessons/courses
in public and private Lyceums, Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions
will be taught online. Kindergartens, Primary Schools and
Gymnasiums continue to operate normally. At the same time, in addition to the
suspension of sports and social activities for persons under 18 years of age,
which is still in force, the operation of tutoring institutes is suspended.
I repeat, the aforementioned measures come
into force on Friday, 11 December, at 6 in the morning. Based
on our planning, they
will remain in place until midnight on 31 December. Until
then, the situation will be re-evaluated in order to review the measures,
provided that the epidemiological picture allows it.
Ladies and gentlemen,
All the above measures concern
indoor areas where mass gatherings and high contact is observed, namely where
the virus is more easily spread. With these measures we are trying to prevent
aggravation of the situation, now that we still have the chance, before the
epidemiological conditions become irreversible. Decisions on measures are
made on the basis of data which are constantly changing.
We understand that, nine months
into pandemic, the society as a whole, as well as each individual, is experiencing
fatigue. We understand that this fatigue causes people to react and leads to
either demotivation or non-compliance with the imposed measures, which in
turn do not lead to the expected results. This fatigue concerns not only us,
but also all governments, since it is not a phenomenon that is observed only
in our country. We must endure this a little bit longer.
The arrival of the first batch
of vaccines in the next few weeks, perhaps during the first days of the new
year, is something that must boost our morale and make us stronger. We are
currently preparing the vaccination programme, which will be announced very
soon, so that the procedures to be followed are made known. Cyprus
participates in all EU procedures to acquire the vaccine and I want to assure
you that the State has taken all the necessary steps in order to provide the
possibility of free vaccination to all Cypriot citizens, who wish to be
vaccinated.
All the recommendations of WHO
as well as ECDC point to not becoming complacent and slacken efforts during
these times. Our concern is focused on the indications for a possible
deterioration of the situation in January 2021 and our strategic objective
remains the containment of the spreading of the virus in order to safeguard
the national Health System and public health.
Together we will try to stop
this deterioration of the situation, now that we still can. As I mentioned
before, we will constantly re-evaluate the facts before the expiration of the
measures, in the hope that, if conditions allow, the measures will be revised
during the festive season. But I don’t want to raise high expectations. It
all depends on the epidemiological conditions. And whatever relaxations there
are, if any, we must realize that this Christmas season will be different.
There are no good restrictive
measures and pleasant prohibitions. But there are measures that are
necessary, and sometimes unpleasant, aiming to safeguard human lives. At this
time, our health comes first. With this priority that the State has set from
the beginning of the pandemic in our country, everything else follows. This
is what our conscience imposes. This was always our responsibility as a State
towards our citizens. At the same time, we are listening carefully to the
concerns of the business world affected by the measures, so from the very
first moment the government has implemented support schemes for the affected
businesses. Therefore, the Support Schemes announced by the Government and
implemented by the Ministry of Labour will continue to apply with the
necessary amendments for the month of December as well, in order to support
both the employees, as well as the businesses affected by the new measures.
In addition, new plans will be implemented by the Ministry of Fina nce for
further support.
Ladies and gentlemen,
From the beginning of the
Pandemic, we knew that the conditions we would live in would be unprecedented,
with implications for the daily life of each individual and of society as a
whole. We knew we were going to run a marathon and we had to preserve our
strength in order to reach the finish line with as few losses as possible.
Once again, I urge you to continue the effort for a while longer, until we
are finally safe.
Thank you.
(MPO/MK)
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