Front Page Headlines
Health system tested to its limit
Understaffing, organisational gaps, while those to be drafted whistle indifferently. Thirteen patients with coronavirus passed away. Nine as a consequence of the virus, 4 because of other ailments. 40 new cases of the pandemic announced yesterday. Special algorithm in effect.
- Attorney general: Irresponsible stance by Athanasios: Akathist Hymn on the balconies – Yesterday’s Rejoicings in empty churches – Compliance with decree
- Assistance packages under revision: Support for as long as necessary
- Tripping up by Moscow
- Cannabis: Two T/Cs with 10 kilos
Hospitals filling up
Number of patients hospitalised increases and the health system reaches its limit. Only one patient taken off support system since March 16.
- Concerns that the picture might not be clear: Possibility of much more cases globally – Disbelief over Turkey’s handling (of crisis) and official announcement for number of cases intensifies – They survived the Spanish Flu, the Great Depression and the Holocaust. Two centenarians send a message of endurance from New York
- Navtex war over Russian exercises in the EEZ: Aeronautical exercises with real fire from today to April 30 – Moscow “bothers” Turkey and Yavuz at plot 9
- The Russians will change all the agreements
Disappeared doctors and diagnoses over phone
Two people working at Makario (Hospital) among the new cases. In quarantine for 48 hours and then nosocomial treatment. Pediatrists without equipment do not examine at their practices.
- “There are no G/Cs and T/Cs, there are humans”
- Investments by Russia up in the air due to changes in agreement
Tests start in hotspots
Aradippou and Paphos focus on samples, one new death, 40 more cases.
- Cyprus: Police caught on video seemingly assaulting citizen
11 dead: Deadly epidemic continues to strike
Nevertheless some insist to see the coronavirus as a joke. Despite the fact that the persons that got sick with coronavirus and passed away are 13 in total, 9 of the deaths are attributed exclusively to the coronavirus and the other 4 to other causes.
- Health Minister about video: Some are looking for excuses to create impressions
- Karpasia: In quarantine for another seven days – Enclaved receive medicines regularly, but not food provisions
- Russia: Changes over double taxing do not concern only Cyprus
Main News
Health system reaches its limit after increase in coronavirus cases
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Human Rights, CBMs, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
All newspapers report that the public health system is being tested to its limits due to the coronavirus pandemic. All media cite statements made by public health officials as part of daily updates on the spread of the virus.
According to the latest information, the first case that had to be hospitalised was recorded on March 16th. Since that day, only one patient has exited intensive care. On Friday, 55 patients with coronavirus were still being hospitalised, twelve of which are in intesive care, most intubated.
Medical care officials have pointed out to the media that if proper procedures and measures are not followed immediately, hospitals will not be able to handle the volume of cases.
Virologist Leontios Kostrikkis announced that on Friday 40 new cases were detected. The cases were detected through a total of 668 tests. For nine of these cases the source of infection remains unclear. Kostrikkis pointed out that it is now obvious the virus had spread in society and hasn’t been succesfully contained.
It was also announced on Friday that another patient died of the coronavirus. The 64-year-old had preexisting health problems. Experts explained that four of a total of 13 deaths so far were attributed to other causes and not to the coronavirus.
According to the tally maintained by Phileleftheros, Cyprus has seen a total of 484 cases and 15 deaths from the coronavirus. 396 cases and 13 deaths have been recorded in the government controlled areas, and 88 cases and two deaths have been reported in the occupied areas.
The dailies also report on a statement made by Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou which was recorded by the media and circulated widely on social media. Ioannou is seen pointing out to journalists on March 5th that “at the end of the day this is a simple flu”. The statement caused a wave of reaction on social media.
In a statement on Friday, Ioannou accused those bringing up the issue as wanting to create a disagreement and added that what he was doing was attempting to calm journalists by explaining that COVID19 is not a virus as serious as a disease like ebola, where the mortality rate can reach 50%.
The dailies also report, citing a translation of a Kibris Postasi story by the PIO, that the bans on movement at the Karpasia peninsula have been extended for another seven days by the T/C “cabinet of ministers”. The decision was taken in order for the cases to be tracked more effectively, according to the report. Meanwhile, the Kyrenia “mayor” has asked for the city to be closed off to visitors to prevent the spread of the virus.
Also, it is reported that the European Commission has announced that it has succefully provided urgent medical equipment worth up to 2.5 million euro to the T/C community, and that 25 special doctors will be assisting the T/C authorities for the next three motnhs.
Haravgi cites statements made to the paper by the “mayor” of Rizokarpaso, Suphi Coskun, the representative of the T/C chamber of small businesses, Hurrem Tulga, the secretary general of the T/C teachers union Sener Elcil and the doctor Okan Dagli.
They share their concerns over the lack of equipment and consumables and regarding the effect the situation is expected to have on the economy. Coskun mentions that the measures taken at Rizokarpaso are taken also for the protection of the G/C enclaved residents. He also noted that there is a dedicated phone line staffed by people that speak good Greek, and noted that there are no G/Cs and T/Cs when the enemy is common.
Tulga pointed out that small businesses are going to be very affected due also to the expected drop in tourism, and that the “government” should take immediate measures. Elcil said that schools are struggling to continue their work through the use of technology but that the infrastructure is lacking. He also noted that foreign students that are stuck in the north are facing particulal problems.
Dagli said that at the moment there is enough medicine, but cast doubt on whether the north could handle an increase in cases. He noted that despite repeated calls for help, Turkey has not come through.
Russian decision on double taxation deal to affect Cyprus
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Economy, Regional/ International Relations, External Security, Energy, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on the decision taken by Russia to renegotiate an agreement for avoiding double taxation with Cyprus. Haravgi points out that the deal was first signed in 1999 and was updated in 2012.
The newspaper notes that this agreement has played a part in the fact that 34% of foreign investment in Russia is connected to persons and legal entities that are based and therefore taxed in Cyprus.
According to the newspaper, the government contacted Moscow in alarm. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has told Cypriot FM Nicos Christodoulides that the changes will be applied to all EU member states, according to an official announcement.
Haravgi notes that the measures were taken in the context of Moscow’s attempts to repatriate funds as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Effectively Russia is seeking to increase taxing to interest and other inflows from Russian companies operating in Cyprus to 15%, and warns that otherwise it will pull out of the deal.
The newspaper points out however that Cyprus is the only country that has received a letter on the isue by the Russian government, despite the fact that Moscow has similar agreements with the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Haravgi directly correlates the move to the USA’s decision to focus their Eastern Mediterranean policy on Cyprus in return for more coordination vis a vis Russia’s actions in the region.
AKEL is criticising the government on the results of Russia’s decision, Haravgi reports. AKEL spokesperson Stephanos Stephanou said that if Russia were to change the agreement on double taxation that would cause major problems for the Cypriot economy.
Stephanou asked why this decision so far specifically targets only Cyprus, and what else the government can do to change the situation when its own actions have made sure that the country is more closely aligned with NATO and the US.
In another Russia-related news item, Phileleftheros reports that aeronautical exercises conducted by Russia in the east, south and west of Cyprus have caused Turkey’s reaction. The RoC has issued several Navtex and Notam on behalf of the Russian navy and air force for multiple dates starting on Saturday and until April 30th.
According to the report, the first Navtex 135/20 concerns all three areas. The first area, where military exercises will take place on 9/4, 17/4 and 30/4 is between Cyprus and Syria. Turkey has not reacted to this.
The second area, where exercises will take place on 7/4 and 21/4 lies west of Cyprus and is close to Kastellorizo. Turkey immediately issued its own Navtex, mentioning that the area is under its jurisdiction. Turkey did not call the RoC Navtex invalid but said it will retransmit relevant information.
The third area lies south of Cyprus and overlaps with a small part of plot 8 and a large part of plot 9 of of the Cypriot EEZ. In its own Navtex, Turkey does not call this Navtex invalid, but mentions that it overlaps with its own former Navtex.