Front Page Headlines
“Civil war” breaks out due to Karotsakis’s threats
OKYpY (Health Services Organisation) relations with health professionals strained. Minister of Health does not adopt instructions. He says (instructions) overstepped bounds. Express intensive care without ensuring staff’s safety.
- 29-year-old’s accusation for police violence: Two investigating officers appointed – Possibility of also appointing investigator for banning ambulance to cross a checkpoint
- Support for seven months: Subsidies until the end of 2020
Crash test for the economy
Support measures extended – At Ministry of Finance they look for solutions and cash. A breath from the 1.75 billion euro loan. Another 1.25 billion euro from domestic sources within the year. Marathon Eurogroup consultations.
- Archbishop’s message: We can pray in caves and deserts
- Coronavirus protocols in the National Guard
Confused instructions in public hospitals
Nurses do not trust OKYpY. Hospital management inadequate. Minister of Health distances himself.
Health minister calls for calm
Doctors spar with Okypy as nurses appeal to ministry.
- Archbishop hopes for results from God, says pray from home
20 Cypriot patients test new medicine against coronavirus
A Cypriot doctor that fell ill asked to be brought Avigan from Japan – Japan responded and sent it to us. Cyprus among the 20 countries that received medical product Avigan as part of clinical study conducted by Japanese authorities. Appeal for help from nurses to Minister for Health: At the end of their tether.
- Eurogroup vs coronavirus: Triple protection net
Main News
Spat between nurses and health services in midst of the pandemic
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Newspapers report on the difficult conditions faced by nurses and doctors during the coronavirus pandemic in Cyprus.
Alithia reports that an instruction by the head of OKYpY (state health services) for Larnaca, Yiorgos Karotsakis, in which he warns that doctors and nurses not wearing a mask would be quarantined without pay, caused the immediate reaction of medical staff and the political parties.
The Minister for Health, Constantinos Ioannou, immediately issued a statement saying that the order was illegal.
Meanwhile the government announced that 29 new cases of the coronavirus were detected on Tuesday, as a result of 1.353 tests. Three of these new cases were detected in Paphos as a result of increased testing conducted in the area.
According to the tally maintained by Phileleftheros, the total number of cases in Cyprus has risen to 588. 494 of the cases were detected in the government controlled areas and 94 in the occupied areas. So far, 14 people have died in the south and 3 in the north.
No new deaths were reported on Tuesday in the government controlled areas. However the dailies report that one more person has died in the occupied areas and two more cases were detected, citing statements by T/C “minister” for health.
Viral epidemiologist Leontios Kostrikkis told journalists that the numbers confirm that the measures taken are working, but that there is still a long way to go.
Phileleftheros reports that Makario Hospital is especially affected since cases of the virus were found in multiple departments.
Alithia reports that a second case of the coronavirus was detected among the men of the presidential guard. The newspaper cites information from government sources that the man hasn’t come into contact with the President.
The dailies also report on the increased deaths of Cypriots living in the UK due to the coronavirus. So far, about 100 people have passed away according to a representative of the Cypriot community that talked to Phileleftheros. The representative pointed out that community leaders are not aware of the exact number. About 70% of coronavirus victims were G/Cs and 30% were T/Cs.
Phileleftheros reports that the National Guard is adopting measures to assist in the efforts against the spread of the coronavirus, but also to protect soldiers themeselves from the spread while maintaining operational readiness.
The newspaper cites government information that cases detected in the National Guard have not led to transmission inside army barracks. According to the newspaper, the National Guard has put specific protocols into effect in order to better control possible outbreaks and in order to be able to shut down a barracks at any time while maintaining appropriate numbers of soldiers inside it.
Phileleftheros also reports on the arrest of two persons that attempted to sidestep the SMS system set up to control movement of citizens outside their homes. The two persons, a 49 year old Israeli man and a 40 year old G/C woman had set up an application sending fake SMS that said they could move freely for 48 hours.
Dailies also report that medicine meant for the enclaved G/Cs living in Karpasia are expected to be sent from the RoC authorities on Wednesday.