Front Page Headlines
Asymptomatics an assymetric threat
They are potential dangers and possible hotspots for spread of virus. About 17% of carriers in Cyprus are “hidden”, without cough or fever. New directives and cases in bakeries, supermarkets, butchers and grocery stores.
- Change in animal killing method: Kosher slaughter by December
- Partial lifting (of measures) starting in May
Frightening dimensions
Cases in spaces where citizens gather bring renewed alertness over virus spread. “We are all potential cases” experts warn and express their concern.
- Mobilisation because of “Alpha Mega” and “Zorbas”: Checks in all businesses that cater to masses of people
- They continue in the same way in the occupied areas: Political games with the pandemic
- Archbishop pulls ear of two bishops: “People will not die if they don’t go to church”
- Citizenships in the game of recovery
They die helpless at home
Lies that all hospital departments are working. Larnaca and Paphos Hospitals underperform. They took apart clinics and moved nursing staff.
- Support to the enclaved
Expert: expect cases to explode
Busy Nicosia supermarket, Larnaca bakery confirm cases.
- Cyprus: Archbishop says Cypriots are disobedient
Clash among Church leadership
Archbishop Chrysostomos grinds his teeth at Bishop Neophytos of Morphou and Metropolitan Varnavas of Trimithounta for disobeying coronavirus decrees. You cannot act in this way, ignoring dangers caused by your decision, because you are not children – Humans will not die if they don’t go to church.
- Occupied areas: Partial loosening of measures for coronavirus from today
Main News
Coronavirus cases in supermarket and bakery cause renewed concern
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Economy, Human Rights, CBMs
OVERVIEW
Newspapers report that multiple cases were found in an “Alpha Mega” supermarket in Engomi, Nicosia and a “Zorbas” bakery in Aradippou, Larnaca, raising fears that the virus might have spread further to citizens through these two and possibly other shops.
On Thursday, the authorities detected another 33 cases of the coronavirus in the government controlled areas after 1,703 tests. Included in this number are 16 persons that had been working in the same bakery.
Experts told journalists that since Saturday, a total of 1,276 tests had been conducted out of the 20,000 tests scheduled for workers in vulnerable sectors.
The dailies also report on the coronavirus situation in the north. According to reports by the Cyprus News Agency citing T/C media, no new cases of coronavirus were detected on Tuesday after 162 people were tested. The “government” is considering gradually lifting measures by opening up some public services, it is also reported.
According to the tally maintained by Phileleftheros, Cyprus now has 795 cases and 21 deaths: 695 of the cases and 17 of the deaths were in the government controlled areas and 100 cases and 4 deaths were in the occupied areas.
According to data updated on April 12th, Paphos has the greatest ratio of cases (93.5 per 100.000 inhabitants), Larnaca is second (90.5 per 100.000), Nicosia is third (46.8 per 100.000), Famagusta is fourth (45.6 per 100.000) and Limassol is last (17.1 per 100.000). There has been an increase particularly in Aradippou, where the ratio has reached 343.8 cases per 100.000 inhabitants.
Phileleftheros and Cyprus Mail report that the T/C authorities did not accept the donation of masks by a T/C businessman because they were imported through Larnaca airport. Olgun Arguden, who had donated 10,000 masks to the Republic of Cyprus, told the Cyprus News Agency that he intended to donate another 10,000 to the north and to sell another 10,000 to pharmacies in the north at cost price.
Arguden said he was informed that for the shipment to be approved there needs to be specific “government” approval. Alithia reports that the 10,000 masks donated by Arguden have already been handed over to the Health Ministry on Tuesday.
In a statement, citizen platform UniteCyprusNow criticised those taking partitionist measures in handling the pandemic. The group expressed concern over a decision by T/C authorities to unilaterally limit the movement of UNFICYP. This decision is a dangerous precedent, the group adds.
UniteCyprusNow also applauded the decision of the T/C business man to donate 10,000 masks to the Republic of Cyprus, the bicommunal cooperation in the Technical Committee for Health which resulted in the G/C side sending medicine to the T/C side, as well as the efforts of the UNDP which gave diagnostic tests to the T/C side on behalf of the EU.
Rizokarpaso T/C authorities also take measures to support enclaved G/Cs
Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Human Rights, CBMs
OVERVIEW
Haravgi quotes statements made to the newspaper by Rizokarpaso “mayor” Suphi Coskun, regarding the lockdown in Karpasia which is continuing for the third week in a row. Coskun told Haravgi that the G/C enclaved can request food, medicine and other provisions to be delivered at their homes via phone.
Coskun also said he has interceded for the 244 G/C enclaved of Rizokarpaso to be given special permits so they can visit a bank in Yialousa where they can cash the cheques sent to them by the Republic of Cyprus.
The Rizokarpaso “mayor” also said that last week he met with Father Zacharias (who maintains the Apostolos Andreas Monastery) and the region’s hodja to discuss the situation.
“Our main concern is that our fellow citizens are victorious in this battle. No one is extraneous, whether christian or muslim” Coskun told Haravgi.
The newspaper recalls that the enclaved receive medicine sent by the G/C side through UNFICYP with the help of the T/Cs.
Haravgi also reports on statements made by presidential commissioner for human rights, Photis Photiou, who said that the government has been informed that measures in the Karpasia area will be lifted after Thursday.