12 new cases of Covid-19 were announced on Tuesday by the ministry of health’s epidemiology team. This brings the total number of cases on the island to 784. Virologist Leontios Kostrikis said a total of 1,325 tests were processed on Tuesday. Meanwhile 16 people are receiving coronavirus treatment at Famagusta General, the reference hospital, while out of the 126 admissions, a total of 98 patients have recovered and were discharged. On Tuesday, three of the patients were being treated in the advanced care unit. One admission was planned for later in the day, while another patient was discharged after a second test proved negative. Since its opening, the reference hospital has had 126 admissions while 98 patients were discharged. As part of ongoing tests of 20,000 people working in the private and public sector that come into contact with others, 10,613 tests were evaluated till today.
A ministerial committee is working on an exit strategy to ease the coronavirus lockdown and restart the economy which will be submitted to the Council of Ministers on April 29, government spokesman Kyriakos Koushos said on Tuesday. His statements followed two meetings with business and trade union leaders and with stakeholders in the tourism and construction sectors chaired by President Nicos Anastasiades at the Presidential Palace earlier today. The president is due to attend a briefing by the epidemiological surveillance unit of the ministerial committee tomorrow and will on Thursday brief party leaders on the Covid-19 situation and the economy. The government has made clear that any decision for the gradual easing of the lockdown in order to restart on the economy will be based on the advice of the scientific team monitoring the outbreak. But with a steady decline in new coronavirus countries, an economy in virtual paralysis and other countries in Europe beginning to ease their restrictions, pressure is mounting on the government. Koushios said that at the meetings, the president had briefed social partners on the existing situation and had heard their views regarding the exit strategy being drafted by the government. The president told participants that the decisions will be based on epidemiological data, the recommendations of the scientific team, the test results and the capability of taking and maintaining safety measures, he added. George Petrou, chairman of the Employers Association (OEB) said all participants were thinking along the same lines — that steps must be taken to restart the economy. By the end of the week, employers will submit their proposals for a gradual return.
A 40% weekly drop in new Coronavirus cases in Cyprus was recorded until April 20, with five more testing positive on Monday as the downward trend continues, bringing the total number of cases to 772. 95 patients were discharged from Famagusta referral hospital from March 11 until April 20.
A new update from the Health Ministry’s epidemiological surveillance unit shows the decline in new Covid-19 cases. The latest infographic presents information up until April 18. The number of cases is evenly split between men and women. One in four are aged over 60. By district, Paphos has the highest number of cases proportionate to the population and Limassol the lowest.
Police conducted a total of 3,422 checks, from 6 yesterday afternoon until 6 this morning, all over the government-controlled areas of the island during which 59 drivers and pedestrians have been booked for breaking the decree restricting movement except with permission in place to contain the spread of coronavirus on the island. A Police Spokesperson told CNA that in Nicosia,1,317 people were checked and 17 were booked, in Limassol 958 were checked and 22 were booked, in Larnaka 391 were checked and 9 were booked, in Pafos 138 were checked and 5 were booked, in Famagusta 218 people were checked and 3 were booked and in the area of Morfou 95 were checked and 1 person was booked. Another 208 checks nationwide were carried out by Police Headquarters Traffic Control during which 2 persons were booked. Police Emergency Response Unit (MAAD) also carried out 47 checks during which no violation of the decree was found. In addition, a total of 726 checks on premises were carried out by the Police on a nationwide basis with one booking in Famagusta out of 116 checks. In Nicosia there were 203 checks on premises, 4 in Limassol, 149 in Larnaka, 142 in Pafos and 112 in the area of Morfou. Out of these checks no violation of the relevant decree was found.
Tourism arrivals in March plunged 67.4% following an entry ban on passenger flights imposed on March 15 to contain the spread of coronavirus. Citing the results of the Passengers Survey, arrivals of tourists reached 55,342 in March 2020 compared to 169,934 in March 2019, recording a decrease of 67,4%. For the period of January – March 2020, arrivals of tourists totaled 246,556 compared to 357,475 in the corresponding period of 2019, recording a decrease of 31.0%.
