Filenews 8 January 2021
Answers to 10 key questions about how businesses should operate during the travel ban decree, the Ministry of Health said when presenting the toughest measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
1. How will private service companies operate?
Private service companies (e.g. law firms, accounting firms, architectural firms, insurance companies, service companies, etc.) work with the simultaneous physical presence of 15% of their staff, with a maximum number of employees who can be physically present at 20 people per professional premises. The rest of the staff work through teleworking at home. It is understood that the number is rounded up. For example, in a business with 10 people, they can work with a physical presence of 2 people. Also, in an enterprise with 200 employees, the maximum number of persons who can work simultaneously with a physical presence may not exceed 20 persons.
It is understood that retailers may sell products by e-commerce (online) and place telephone orders by home shipping/delivery.
A detailed list will be issued by the Ministry of Labour.
2. Which undertakings/sites/branches suspend their operations?
The following undertakings shall be suspended:
- Barbershops and hairdressers,
- Institutes of Aesthetics,
- Tattoo centres,
- Theatres, cinemas, theatres, outdoor and open amphitheatres,
- Dining areas *,
- Night clubs
- Shopping malls, department stores**,
- Playgrounds
- Theme parks, amusement parks, kart tracks, paintball tracks,
- Archaeological sites, museums, historical sites,
- Zoos and natural habitats,
- Betting and gambling agencies,
- Casino
- Amateur driver schools, car driving schools, professional car driving schools (Schools/Professional Capacity Certification Centres), Transporter Vocational Training Schools and Dangerous Goods Vehicle Driver Vocational Training Schools;
- Car dealerships ***,
- Gyms, dance schools, other relevant schools.
* It is understood that dining areas can only offer home delivery services at the times that determine the premises themselves and take- away and drive- through until 9 p.m.
** It is understood that retail stores within shopping centres may sell products by e-commerce by home shipping/delivery.
It is understood that in the case of car dealerships, only service workshops are allowed. At the same time, car garages and other related undertakings, as well as road transport vehicle technical control (MOT) services, remain in operation.
3. Which undertakings do not suspend their operations?
Undertakings which remain in operation, in compliance with the relevant health directives and protocols, are defined in the relevant list to be issued by the Ministry of Labour.
4. What applies to the operation of construction sites and other related undertakings?
Construction sites and other undertakings with related activities shall continue to operate in compliance with the health protocols. A related list of companies that remain in operation will be issued by the Ministry of Labour.
5. What about the operation of beverage and food retail businesses and the popular markets?
The operation of beverage and food retail businesses, such as supermarkets, mini-markets, fruit shops, bakeries, butchers, fish shops, grocery stores, is permitted.
It is clarified that the sale of retail items (e.g. clothes, shoes, cosmetics, electrical appliances, linen, toys, etc.) to the above-listed beverage and food retailers is prohibited.
Pharmacies, supermarkets, mini-markets, fruit shops, butchers, fish shops and grocery stores, from the start of their operation until 10 a.m., serve only people over 65 years of age and people with disabilities.
The popular markets operate at a capacity of 50% of their capacity. The operation of popular markets selling clothing, linen and/or other products, as well as the itinerant sale, is prohibited.
Businesses operating in the supply chain remain in operation.
6. Do hotels and other tourist accommodation remain open?
Hotels/tourist accommodations operate solely for the accommodation of persons who do not have their permanent residence in Cyprus and fall under the provisions of the Decree (paragraphs 2.9 to 2.14 and 2.16). Reservations are not allowed for persons residing permanently in the Republic of Cyprus.
It is understood that the dining areas within the hotels and tourist accommodations remain open:
- only for the service of the persons accommodated in their premises,
- with a maximum number of persons in total up to 75 persons (indoor and outdoor),
- six (6) persons per table,
- one person per 3 sq.m. indoors and one person per 2 sq.m. outdoors.
7. How will the public and wider public sector and local government work?
The public and wider public sector and local government work with the necessary security personnel in the offices to manage urgent issues and serve citizens to cover emergencies. The staff released shall remain at home in order to work by teleworking method. In defining security personnel, account should be taken of the need to restrict officials belonging to high-risk groups. Services defined under the Ordinance as essential services are excluded from the above regulation.
8. How will the Courts work?
The Courts will only deal with urgent cases and their operation is regulated by a circular issued by the Supreme Court.
9. How will the National Guard camps work?
The operation of the National Guard camps will be regulated on the basis of guidelines issued by the Ministry of Defence.
10. Is it permissible to hold conferences, exhibitions, assemblies, press conferences, examinations?
Conferences, assemblies, exhibitions and journalistic conferences are suspended. It is understood that they may be used electronically.
Examinations and/or meetings of State Authorities and/or meetings of Authorities and/or Agencies and/or Bodies and/or Bodies may be held in places for which approval is given by the Ministry of Health.
