Cyprus Mail 6 May 2021 - by Gina Agapiou
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| (Photo: Christos Theodorides) |
The introduction of the ‘coronapass’ in Cyprus starting Monday has sparked a mixed reaction among the public, lawyers and the hospitality sector with some welcoming the restart of the economy and others protesting that it violates human rights and personal freedoms.
With the lifting of the two-week lockdown on May 10, the state plans to introduce a coronapass that will be required for people to visit cafes, restaurants, shopping malls, gyms, theatres and places of worship. Such a pass entails either having a negative Covid test carried out within the last 72 hours or having received at least one dose of the vaccine three weeks prior or having contracted the virus in the past six months.
Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou is due to give details about the new system at a press conference later on Thursday.
But for many commentators on social media, the move smacks of government overreach and is totally unacceptable. Others see it as an unwelcome, but necessary step to allow the reopening of the economy.
While certain business owners and developers expressed their approval about the overall new measures announced late on Wednesday, Phanos Leventis, the head of association of owners of recreation centres (Pasika) threatened to sue the state over the unconstitutional measure as this restriction is expected to affect business in the hospitality sector.
The measure was also branded as unconstitutional by the president of the Cyprus Bar Association Christos Clerides who, in a social media post cited chapter 26 of the law and the country’s constitution saying they do not provide the possibility of introduction and enforcement of such a document.
In response, government spokesman Kyriacos Koushos told Politis radio that the only competent body to conclude whether the measure is unconstitutional is the court.
Other business owners said the government’s decisions for the relaxation of measures by allowing the reopening of outdoor seating areas and hotels for locals were ‘moving in the right direction’.
“Coronapass is a secure framework for the reopening of the hotel industry,” the director of the Cyprus Hotels Association Philokipros Rousounides told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).
The measure will ensure public health security and make Cypriots but also foreigners, who will be visiting the island with a negative coronavirus test or are vaccinated, to feel that they are in a safe controlled environment, Rousounides added.
Despite admitting there will be problems regarding the coronapass, the president of the recreation centres association (Osika) Neophytos Thrasyvoulou focused on the reopening of the sector for the public calling the cabinet’s decisions ‘correct’.
On Monday, about 30 per cent of recreation centres nationwide will reopen, while the operation of other recreational centres such as night clubs, discotheques remain postponed.
The coronapass, Thrasyvoulou told CNA, will be a responsibility of the customers and the association cannot intervene.
According to initial information, police or other relevant bodies will be in charge of checks and not the establishments.
Further details are expected to be announced during the press conference at 3pm with Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou and members of the epidemiological team.
At a first stage, the document is expected to be a physical copy of those certifications, pending the creation of an application by the deputy ministry of research, which is also in charge of the vaccination portal.
