Front Page Headlines
Our lives in quarantine to break the chain
Council of Ministers moved from half measures to draconian measures yesterday. Seven new cases in the free areas, one in the occupied areas, two at the Bases. Measures and 750 euro push back return of students: all who come will be confined. All scheduled surgeries postponed until the end of the month. Concern in banks. Hellenic opens fewer branches.
- Faithful without… guilt
- Crossing hurdles
“The times are critical”
All of Cyprus in state of emergency – Borders, churches and businesses close. For the first time in history the Republic of Cyprus prevents citizens from returning to the country. 33 patients in free Cyprus. Six in the occupied areas. Two at Akrotiri SBA.
- Turkey boundlessly provocative
- Hybrid Greco-Turkish war
We entered a state of quarantine
General lockdown and stricter measures at arrivals. Everyone who enters Cyprus should have certificate of health. Essential services remain open.
- Confirmed cases increase: Most of the incidents arrived from England. Paphos General Hospital remains closed
- State Department notes that hiring asylum applicants is slow and costly process
Measures – shield against coronavirus
Cyprus in state of emergency since yesterday. Obligatory presentation of medical certificate and obligatory 14 day quarantine in spaces of the RoC for all (Cypriots and foreigners) come to Cyprus from today. Change of stance: Archbishop calls for abstention from church services.
Main News
Cyprus under total lockdown and travellers discouraged due to coronavirus
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
CBMs, Internal Security, Human Rights, External Security, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on Sunday’s announcement that Cyprus is entering a state of emergency and closes its borders to non-citizens, will also actively discouraging citizens from returning while the coronavirus crisis continues. The measures were announced in statements by President Anastasiades and are set to come into effect at 18:00 on Monday and last until April 30th.
Phileleftheros reports that the measures were deemed necessary since by Saturday the number of cases of coronavirus infection in Cyprus in both sides of the divide as well as the SBA reached a total of 41. Anastasiades said that the situation is critical and that what is needed is for citizens to show responsibility and solidarity to each other.
The dailies report that according to these new measures, even Cypriot citizens that want to return to the country during the state of emergency would have to present a medical certificate from their country of departure and would have to go into quarantine at a state-sanctioned area. Students will be given 750 each as an incentive to stay in the country where they study.
Also, most businesses will have to shut down and the public service will function only within specific parameters. Businesses that provide services will remain open but will have to limit the amount of people in their premises to five, including staff. The government has also announced that a package of 700 million euros will be available to support businesses.
Furthermore, visits to state hospitals will be prohibited in order to protect patients and staff. Also, buses will run only half full to minimise the danger of transmission.
In another development, Archbishop Chrystostomos issued an announcement calling on the faithful to abstain from attending church services for the next three weeks and to instead watch services from television.
T/C closure of checkpoints affects G/C enclaved and newly resettled
Politis
CBMs, Internal Security, Human Rights, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Politis reports that the measures announced by the T/Cs regarding checkpoints along the buffer zone are expected to mostly influenced the enclaved G/Cs residing in the Karpasia peninsula as well as on communities, mainly Maronites, that have resettled in their villages in the occupied areas.
According to the “government’s” measures, everyone that crosses through the checkpoints to the north will have to remain in quarantine for 14 days, whether they’re returning to the north or are crossing after an extended period, Politis reports.
The newspaper notes that the RoC government has announced that all G/Cs and T/Cs can cross checkpoints but that anyone entering the government controlled areas will have to be certified by an approved medical center. However, those persons will still have to remain in quarantine for 14 days.
Politis also points out that the T/C “police” had been misinforming citizens. In an announcement, the “police” said that the G/C side had closed the checkpoints for T/Cs. The newspaper underlines that that is not true.
The result of these measures from both sides is that older G/C enclaved will find it extremely difficult to cross into the government controlled areas and their relatives will effectively not be able to visit them. The problem also affects persons that resides in Kormakitis and other Maronite villages but work in the government controlled areas.
Politis points out that UNFICYP is responsible for handling the cases of G/C enclaved with health issues, which means that peace keepers will have to visit and check on them. The enclaved communities are in constant communication with humanitarian issues commissioner of the government Fotis Fotiou as well as the Cyprus Problem directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Politis notes.