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Update – 16/06/2020

  • No new coronavirus cases were announced by the health ministry on Tuesday, leaving the total at 985. The ministry said a total of 912 tests were processed, 128 from repatriated individuals, 298 from private initiative, 91 from contact tracing, 195 from state hospital laboratories, and 200 referred by a personal doctor. Three people are being treated at Famagusta General, the reference hospital, and two are being treated in the intensive care unit of Nicosia General. One is intubated there, and the other is off the ventilator.
  • Days before June 20 and phase two of the reopening of the airports, a high level meeting at the Presidential Palace today will evaluate the ‘pilot run’ since June 9 and prepare for the next steps. The first test with the opening of the airports has brought to the forefront concerns regarding the coronavirus outbreak, given that the vast majority of new Covid-19 cases reported in the past few days concern repatriations, she adds. Fluctuations as regards the epidemiological situation of various countries led to changes in the lists of low and higher risk countries. Among the changes, Israel was moved from Group A countries (which from June 20 will not require a coronavirus free certificate) to Group B (which will continue to do so) while a number of Group B countries were moved to Group A. Today’s meeting aims at the better coordination of the various ministries and departments, in view of phase two of the opening of the airports on June 20. Taking part will be Hermes Airports, the ministries of health, transport and justice, the deputy ministry of tourism and police. They will review experience gained so far since commercial flights started on June 9. The resumption of flights, with requirement for all arrivals to have tested for coronavirus prior to departure, except for Cypriots and residents who can do so here, was widely seen as a trial run in anticipation of Saturday. However, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos was quick to clarify yesterday that there are no changes in the planning when asked whether the fact that Cyprus’ new coronavirus cases were almost exclusively imported. Rather, he said, the results show that Cyprus has prepared well for the opening of the airports. And he said that new rapid tests to be made available at the airports in the next few days will mean arrivals will not need to stay at hotels overnight but will simply wait at the airport for the result.
  • Four employees at two Nicosia catering establishments were booked for not wearing a mask and gloves as required by measures to contain the spread of coronavirus, police said on Tuesday. In an announcement, police said that in the past 24 hours (6 am on Monday to 6 am on Tuesday) they had carried out 622 checks islandwide. Of the 622 checks, 152 were in Nicosia where four people, two managers and two employees at a pub and a restaurant, were booked for not wearing a mask and gloves.

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