Filenews 23 April 2021
The Cabinet meeting under President Anastasiades was concluded, through which the new measures against the spread of the crown were "locked".
Earlier, the President of the Republic briefed the political leaders at the National Council, and on Thursday evening, he held an emergency meeting with the epidemiological team to hear the experts' suggestions.
The new measures
From Monday, April 26, 2021, at 5 a.m., until Sunday, May 9, 2021, at midnight the Council of Ministers decided:
- Traffic shall be prohibited from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following day except in the following cases:
(a) transition to and from workplaces, as well as for work purposes using the Employee Traffic Certificate Form;
(b) going to a medical centre or hospital or pharmacy or veterinarian for medical emergencies.
- Prohibition of gatherings, public or social events, regardless of private or public, domestic or external space (e.g. squares, dams, excursion areas, Marinas).
- Exceptionally and only on Easter Sunday (2 May), in addition to permanent residences, persons may be present in homes provided that they come from only two families and provided that the total number of persons in the house does not exceed 10 persons, including minors.
- Only once per person per day is allowed by sending a text message to 8998. To go for vaccination purposes for COVID-19, a text message is not required.
- The church and other forms of religious worship in religious places will take place without the presence of believers.
- Religious ceremonies (weddings, baptisms, funerals) with a maximum number of 10 persons are allowed.
- The presence of believers in places of religious worship is permitted for the purpose of individual prayer and with a maximum number within the space of 10 people.
- Only for the Resurrectable Sequence on the Holy Saturday (May 1st) the presence of believers in the courtyard of the holy temples is permitted, respecting the measure of distancing and the health protocol applicable to the functioning of the churches and provided that arrangements are made for the faithful to attend. Inside the doors, only up to 50 people are allowed on the Big Saturday at the base of the protocol. All other days of Holy Week, the presence of believers in places of religious worship is prohibited either indoors or outdoors.
- On the Big Saturday (May 1st), to facilitate the participation of the faithful in the Resurrectable Sequence, instead of 9 on Saturday night, the travel ban begins at 1 a.m. (Great Saturday to Easter Sunday). All other days, the travel ban remains as it is (9 p.m.).
- Public services require tele-work for at least 20% of staff, with the exception of essential and other services to be defined by Decree.
- Private service companies are allowed the simultaneous physical presence of 20% of their staff, with a minimum number of employees of 3 persons and a maximum of 25 persons per professional premises/legal person.
- Increase the rate of mandatory rapid detection tests on a weekly basis of 50% of employees. It is understood that businesses/services with a physical presence of up to five (5) persons are required to carry out tests for all five persons.
- All dining areas (restaurants, taverns, cafes, pubs, snack bars and bars, cafes and dining areas within shopping centres, canteens and/or sports groups, cultural groups, clubs, clubs, etc.) are suspended, with the exception of their services relating to home distribution and take away. It is understood that after 9 p.m. only home distribution is allowed.
- The operation of outdoor and closed theatres, amphitheatres, cinemas, and theatre rooms is suspended.
- The operation of retail businesses other than beverage and food retailers or essentials retailers as defined in the Ordinance shall be suspended.
- The operation of gyms, dance schools and other sports schools is suspended. Personal training is allowed in open outdoor areas where access is permitted under the Ordinance with a maximum number of two persons.
- The operation of gambling and betting businesses is suspended.
- The operation of barbershops, salons and beauty salons is suspended.
- All group care facilities, as well as sports and social activities for children under 18 years of age, are prohibited. It is understood that tele-education and physical instruction are permitted for up to two persons including the instructor (1+1).
Source: eyenews
