Two people have tested positive for coronavirus in Cyprus from a total of 1836 tests, the Health Ministry said on Friday. One was from repatriations and the other from private initiative tests. They bring the total number of cases here to 960.
The government’s priority is to support employment and it is determined to do whatever possible within its means to preserve jobs, the deputy government spokesman said on Friday. As part of this policy, President Nicos Anastasiades held a broad meeting with employers, unions, and tourism stakeholders to discuss further measures that could be rolled out to tackle the fallout of the coronavirus crisis. “The meeting took place in the framework of the social dialogue on the next phase of the labour ministry schemes to support workers and businesses,” Panayiotis Sentonas said.
Cyprus took timely and strict measures against the spread of the coronavirus outbreak and these measures bore fruit, Minister of Justice and Public Order George Savvides told the EU Ministers of Justice Council that took place via teleconference on Thursday. According to a press release issued by the Public Information Office, the EU Justice Ministers exchanged views concerning the state of play with regard to the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak in the area of justice in the EU both concerning criminal justice as well as issues concerning civil and commercial law. Speaking during the meeting, Savvides also said Cypriot courts decided to extend their operation until end-July in a bid to process the cases that were left pending during the two-month lockdown in March and April. He also referred to the decisions concerning digital justice such as electronic submission of documents until the implementation of a comprehensive digital justice programme. Furthermore, in a discussion on the legal and civil situation concerning the extradition of EU citizens to third countries, Savvides stressed the importance of safeguarding EU citizens’ rights and agreed with the Croatian Presidency’s suggestion for a detailed study by Eurostat and the European European Judicial Network whose results will be tabled before the EU Justice Ministers.
The government should be cautious in channeling public funds until there is clarity concerning the development of the crisis caused by the coronavirus outbreak, the Fiscal Council said in its spring report, stressing that the crisis has once more highlighted the need to promote reforms to strengthen the Cypriot economy. The Council noted that amid the uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 outbreak projections and fiscal planning should be revised and adjusted regularly depending on new data reflecting the clearer image concerning the development of the pandemic and its impact on the economy. “In the meantime, and until there is clarity concerning the pandemic’s development and taking into account the situation of the economic activity, public funds should be channeled with caution,” the Council said.
The Health Ministry said on Friday that starting June 13, Category A of citizens at serious risk from Covid-19 is no longer effective and therefore those citizens can return to work as of that date. As per the relevant Cabinet decision on June 3, the Health Ministry said that Category B should continue working from home and amendments may be made based on the continuous evaluation of the epidemiological situation. The Health Ministry reminded that Category B individuals that meet the below criteria are considered extremely high risk and it is recommended that they work from home:
Pre-existing Chronic Respiratory Disease (e.g. severe bronchial asthma, patients on chronic oxygen therapy or non-invasive ventilation [CPAP or BiPaP] at home, severe pulmonary hypertension (NYHA III and IV), severe pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary lobectomy.
Severe Chronic Renal Failure (creatinine clearance <15 ml / min and hemodialysis).
Heart arrhythmia with permanent defibrillator or heart disease with permanent defibrillator and amphibole pacemaker.
Heart failure of any etiology (ischemic or non-ischemic) or stage according to NYHA III or IV.
Cardiovascular disease
Myocarditis ( documented history of myocarditis, hypertrophic, dilated, infiltrative (amyloidosis)).
Congenital heart disease after surgical correction with significant residual impairment or non-corrected congenital heart disease with significant residual impairment.
Active use of biological agents (e.g. TNF inhibitors, interleukin inhibitors) or other immunosuppressive drugs.
Active chronic corticosteroid administration (≥ 20mg prednisone or equivalent for ≥ 1 month).
Patients with a history of transplantation of solid organs or primordial hematopoietic cells.
Patients with co-morbid or hematological malignancies receiving chemotherapy or radiation or immunotherapy.
Patients with HIV or patients with CD4 lymphocyte count <200 / mm3.
