GCC Press Review 7 Apr 2020

Front Page Headlines

Politis

Resurrection will come one month late

Government suggestion met with positive response by Holy Synod. Repatriation of students belonging in vulnerable groups to happen gradually until the end of April. Ηoly Week critical for further limiting positive cases.

  • Ihnilatis” to limit COVID-19: It is not “Big Brother” – RISE professor Yiorgos Chrysanthou reassures citizens
  • (Ombudswoman)Lottides warns

Phileleftheros

First encouraging signs

Cautious optimism because of restrictions – Onset of virus in hospitals continues. Decision by Holy Synod expected to move Easter Vigil.

  • Aliens spit on policemen: Eventful arrests for decree violation
  • Possible delay at block 10 of the EEZ: Obstacles due to Covid-19 but they proceed with drillings

Haravgi

No loosening until the end of April

19 new cases, including a newborn at Makario (Hospital). Seven found in two private hospitals. New tests to entire staff of Presidential Palace.

Cyprus Mail

Easter likely to be ‘moved’

Lockdown will probably continue until end of April.

Alithia

Smiles broaden, measures remain until May

Less than 20 cases for second day in a row. Call to try even more – A newborn at Makario, a doctor at the Thalassemia Center of Makario and a member of the Presidential Guard among yesterday’s cases. Bank of Cyprus: Rotating closure of branches.

  • Problems: Will we have the Holy Light on Easter? Resurrection on May 27th?
  • Morphou Bishop: Store food for a year because of coronavirus

Main News

Authorities cautiously optimistic due to slowdown in new cases

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Human Rights

OVERVIEW

The dailies report that government experts told journalists on Monday, that the reduction in daily new coronavirus cases observed over the past few days indicates the effectiveness of measures taken.

However, experts note, this means that the coming week is crucial and that measures should not be scaled back before mid-May.

On Monday, 19 new cases were detected, many in public and private hospitals. The new cases were detected after a total of 718 tests.

One of these new cases is a newborn in Makario Hospital. Two of the cases were detected at the American Medical Center (eight cases in total have been found in this hospital so far) and another five at private Timios Stavros Hospital in Larnaca, which has since closed its doors to new patients.

One of the new cases concerns a member of the Presidential Guard. As a result the entire staff of the Presidential Palace will be tested for the second time.

The total number of cases in Cyprus has now reached 558 and there have been 16 deaths according to a tally by Phileleftheros. Out of these, 466 cases were found in the government controlled areas (including the SBAs) and 92 were found in the occupied areas. Out of the total 16 deaths, 14 occurred in the south and two in the north. Only one new case was detected in the north on Monday.

Meanwhile, 508 tests have been conducted so far in Aradippou which is now considered a hotspot of the virus. So far six cases have been detected in the town. Testing in Paphos, the other main hotspot on the island, are being concluded today.

All the dailies report that the government and the Church of Cyprus are considering moving the celebration of Easter to the end of May. This issue, as well as the possibility of repatriation of strudents, will be discussed by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday.

The Council of Ministers will also be considering the proposal for sending monetary support to the enclaved in Karpasia as additional assistance during the quarantine imposed in the area by the T/C authorities. Alithia reports that the government will be sending necessary medicine to the G/C inhabitants in the area through UNFICYP.

In another development, the Ministry of Defence and the National Guard are considering different scenarios regarding the drafting of recent graduates, the coordination of the process with school final examinatinos, as well as the discharge of soldiers currently serving.


Ministry of Interior responds on migrant center conditions

Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Human Rights, Migration & Citizenship

OVERVIEW

The Ministry of the Interior reacted to a statement issued by NGOs Cyprus Refugee Council and Caritas regarding living conditions in the Kokinotrimithia reception center for migrants. Meanwhile, Ombudswoman Maria Lottides has told Politis she will look into the issue.

According to Phileleftheros, the Ministry pointed out in an official statement that so far the authorities have prevented coronavirus infections among migrants by limiting their movements. The Ministry asks how there could be freedom of movement for migrants when the movements of citizens are being limited.

The Ministry adds that a small number of migrants were moved to the two reception centers from the hostels were they were residing in because they were not following the government’s measures. Also, the Ministry points out that once the situation allows it, those migrants that come from countries where there is no danger to their lives will be sent back.

Phileleftheros does not name the two NGOs as the Ministry’s announcement does not name them either. In the statement issued by the NGOs, which was publicised on Monday by Politis, Cyprus Refugee Council and Caritas point out that living conditions in the reception center are inadequate since it was originally meant to house asylum seekers for 72 hours so that they could undergo medical tests and register with authorities. The two NGOs also pointed that the transfer of a number of migrants from hostels to the already packed center has increased the danger of spreading the coronavirus.

Politis cites a statement by Ombudsman Maria Lottides to the newspaper who said that her office will be inspecting the situation in the migrant accomodation center in Kokinotrimithia. She clarified that she has not received an official complaint from the NGOs that raised the issue.

Politis reports that in a statement on Monday, Lottidou pointed out that the government needs to ensure human rights and dignity are respected when taking measures against the coronavirus regarding groups whose basic freedoms are already being limited. These include prisons, holding facilities, migrant reception centers, psychiatric clinics, old peoples’ homes and quarantine facilities.

Phileleftheros reports that the coronavirus pandemic has essentially stopped the arrival of irregular migrants to the government controlled areas through the buffer zone. There has been no new asylum applications for three days, the newspaper notes.

The newspaper recalls that despite measures, the arrival of migrants (mainly economic migrants from African countries according to the reporter) had not stopped during the past few weeks but radically decreased to single digit numbers.


Energy companies to delay and reschedule drillings due to crisis

Phileleftheros
Energy, Economy, Regional/ International Relations, External Security

OVERVIEW

Phileleftheros reports that ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum are considering postponing their drillings in plot 10 of the Cypriot EEZ to the first few months of 2021. The two companies have contracted a drilling platform, but the situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic has thrown a spanner in the works. The newspaper cites sources that are connected with the process.

Phileleftheros notes that the primary issue faced by ExxonMobil is the difficulty in sending specialised staff to Cyprus from Huston, Texas, since they would have to remain in quarantine for 14 days.

The newspaper also reports that drillings by ENI and Total are expected to be delayed but not cancelled. The drillings in the Lebanese EEZ that had been delayed (causing subsequent delays to the schedule of operations in the Cypriot EEZ) are now proceeding without additional problems.

Drilling in Lebanon’s plot 4 has reached a depth of 3,000 meters and is expected to reach its target of 4,200 meters in the next few weeks. Phileleftheros adds that drillship Tungsten Explorer and its support ships are following all necessary guidelines to safeguard the health of their crew and staff. Its staff and crew is being rotated taking into account quarantines imposed in Lebanon.

Phileleftheros also reports that Turkish drillship Yavuz prematurely ended its work in target “Lefkosa-1” in plot 8 of the Cypriot EEZ in Monday morning and is returning to a port in south Turkey. The target is located south of the Eratosthenes Seamount and works were expected to last until May 24th. The newspaper cites information that the drilling was ended due to a lack of results.


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