Filenews 6 January 2021 - by Marilena Panagi
All contingencies are open and all scenarios possible and now include three different versions of general quarantine, since last night, the version of a lockdown was added to the list even stricter than the one that was implemented last March.
The information from the President was, of course, confusing throughout the day, which demonstrates the very difficult position in which, beyond any doubt, the Government is in, as it must "measure" on the one hand the strength of the local economy and on the other hand the strength of the health system and the health of Cypriot citizens.
Until late afternoon, (when "F" was already in the printing press, due to yesterday's hours under the PSE conventions), government sources told the media that the economy does not allow a general prohibition, which would require the simultaneous implementation of long-term plans to support the economy.
In fact, the equation added to the economic uncertainty caused by the failure of the State Budget to pass the State Budget by the House with the statements of the Minister of Labour about the inability to pay the allowances provided for in the existing plans because of the outstanding, in which the state budget is located to reinforce the possibility of a more "loose" lockdown.
At this time, of course, the scheduled meeting of the President of the Republic with the Ministers of Health, Finance, Labour and Education was still pending, which was set for 6:30 p.m. and so, although all the information spoke of a more "relaxed" version, the lockdown we experienced in spring was still on the table with the only difference being the "open skies". , i.e. the continuation of flights and the operation of airports. These two scenarios were also submitted this morning by the scientists to the President of the Republic.
The data changed after Nikos Anastasiades met with the four Ministers,when information from government sources no longer ruled out a general prohibition, even stricter than that of March, which would impose strict restrictions on all professional sectors, restore the use of 8998 and 2 sms per person on travel, will be applied from Sunday morning and will be valid until the end of January.
This scenario, it should be noted, does not seem to be irrelevant to the claim of some government officials that if the duration of the new measures is not long, the Ministries of Labour and Finance will be able to fill the gaps created by the interruption of economic activity in the area.
On the other hand, however, it contradicts the positions of members of the Advisory Scientific Committee, who even yesterday, after meeting with the President of the Republic and citing the example of other countries, argued that the two or three weeks of severe restriction are not enough to significantly improve the epidemiological picture of Cyprus, despite the fact that they will somehow help to decongest the health system.
Given this, anything is possible and certainly Cyprus from Sunday returns to quarantine, whatever scenario the Cabinet finally adopts at its meeting on Thursday morning.
However, when the scientists left the Presidential Palace yesterday morning, they were instructed to prepare, on the basis of what had been discussed, a final comprehensive proposal, which would provide, in addition to the measures to be taken, in their view, and how the step-by-step lifting of any restrictions would then follow.
The two scenarios submitted by the scientists
The first scenario provided for a loose lockdown, with a tightening of the measures now in place. In other words, it includes the restriction of gatherings in homes, teleworking in the public and wider public sectors, the suspension of the operation of gymnasiums, dance schools, nurseries, shopping centres, etc. to which they are added, hairdressers, barbershops and beauty salons.
The proposal includes closing schools for at least another week, returning primary school pupils on 18 January and continuing tele-education for secondary school pupils for another two weeks. One of the proposals is to bring back the three-sms system, per citizen for traffic.
The second scenario concerns the case of a hard total lockdown, with the only difference since March being the maintenance of open skies, but with restrictions on those arriving in Cyprus. This proposal provides for implementation for two weeks and a gradual and gradual lifting of restrictions.
