Two new cases were announced on Wednesday evening by the health ministry. This brings the total to 905. Cyprus has seen a steady drop in confirmed cases over the past few weeks, as experts advising the government have praised the epidemiological picture as encouraging. On May 12 there were two new cases, on May 11 there were three and on May 10 a slight increase of six cases. The government and experts have said they are expecting a slight increase in cases as the lockdown measures have been eased.
It will be at least two months before crossings open, authorities in the north said while announcing that all Covid-19 patients there have recovered. According to “authorities” in the north there are currently no Covid-19 patients. It’s been almost a month since no new cases were announced in the north with authorities saying of the 108 cases detected so far, 104 have recovered while four people died.
A road map to gradually reopen the airports is being drawn up and will be submitted to cabinet next week but no decision has been taken yet, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos told CNA. The gradual resumption of flights envisioned in stage 3 of the government’s lockdown exit strategy from June 9 — but in stages and under conditions. The minister’s remarks came hours after a member of the team of scientists advising the government on the coronavirus outbreak Maria Koliou told CNA that the team was working on an airport action plan. Karousos said drafting of the plan has started, with officials in search of the golden mean. “The point is to start flights in an effective and productive way for the economy, without affecting public health,” he said. The steering committee made up of the permanent secretaries of ministries of transport, finance and interior and of the deputy ministry of tourism and experts from the epidemiological team representing the health ministry and the director of civil aviation is drafting working document which will be submitted to cabinet next week so that the gradual easing of restrictions on flight can start. This plan of action includes the time plan and the various phases for the resumption of flights and the countries with which air connectivity will be restored. There will also be provisions regarding the trip with measures for airports and the changes to infrastructure that will be needed. Also covered will be entry requirements, such as whether a coronavirus test will be required before boarding or on arrival, and provisions as to how full a plane will be. The opening of flights, he clarified, will be gradual.
Cyprus` Deputy Tourism Minister Savvas Perdios said on Wednesday that 55% of the actions planned for 2020 in the sector of tourism has been completed. Perdios who briefed the cabinet on the implementation of the action plan for this year, said in statements at the Presidential Palace among other things, that the Deputy Ministry has been promoting incentives for the promotion of tourism in rural, mountainous and remote areas and is also in the process of reviewing all schemes to do with special types of tourism which will continue until 2021. The Deputy Minister expressed his satisfaction because despite a large part of his team working from home in the last two months, “55% of the action plan for 2020 has already been completed.”
Police carried out 5540 checks on pedestrians and drivers in the 12 hours from 6 pm on Tuesday to 6 am on Wednesday and booked 88 for breaking the lockdown. Of the 88, nearly half were in Limassol.
