Front Page Headlines
Loan installments freeze for nine months
Brave fiscal and bank measures from the government and the Central Bank. Suggestion to CERA (Energy Regulatory Authority) for a 10% ‘discount’ on electricity bills. Foreclosures by banks will be frozen for three months.
- State hospitals are struggling: Padlock also to the Limassol hospital’s pediatric department – Pediatrician tested positive to coronavirus, hospital executive in self-isolation.
- Over 600 are being repatriated – Chartered flights for those left stranded.
Upgrade of the emergency situation
Struggle to avoid the extreme scenario of full curfew. Pediatrician and nurse up the risk level in hospitals.
- The political leaders at the Presidential Palace – The president has called for determination and cooperation.
- A race to repatriate stranded Cypriots – Airports are closing down.
- The new National Guard commander has taken the baton
- Petrol is down by €0.10 cents and diesel by €0.06
- Serious incidents at Evros just before the borders close
It’s the Limassol hospital’s pediatric department’s turn
A Limassol hospital pediatrician is, according to information, one of the nine confirmed coronavirus cases announced by the health ministry yesterday. After the Nicosia and Paphos general hospitals the Limassol pediatric department is closing down as a precaution.
- Shortages bring hospitals to their knees
- Hotels are being used for the return of the stranded Cypriots
- Suspension of foreclosures and low interest rates – The Central Bank measures: suspension of foreclosures, loan restructuring with installment suspension and loans with low interest rates. €1,4bn to support businesses and households. The five bills on the fiscal and other measures tabled in parliament.
Doctors step up after help plea
Repeated calls for doctors to help. Doctors referring patients to 1420. Hotels to become quarantine centres.
- Hospital pediatrician and a nurse among nine new cases
- Health workers asking for more asking for more protective gear
Rise against coronavirus
Island wide rallying up to the struggle against the common enemy. Doctors, teachers, professional organisations, non-governmental organisations, municipalities and many more are each giving their own battle from their own post. Volunteers put themselves to the government’s disposal. The Limassol hospital too in the grip of the coronavirus. A pediatrician among the confirmed cases, the clinic has been closed. Nine new confirmed cases yesterday. We reached 58 so far and 20 more in the occupied areas. Third case at the British Bases. Full closure of the skies and not just for the 28 countries from early Saturday. From then on only repatriation flights will be carried out. Ten per cent reduction in electricity prices and suspension of foreclosures for three months.
- New National Guard commander: He was sworn-in and assumes duties
- EUROVISION 2020: It was cancelled until 2021
Main News
Stricter measures could be on the way to curb spread of Covid-19
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Human Rights, CBMs, Economy
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that the Limassol hospital’s paediatrics department will close down after one doctor working there was tested positive to coronavirus on Wednesday. The woman is one of the nine new confirmed cases that bring the number to 58 so far.
According to the papers, nine new Covid-19 cases were announced on Wednesday evening.
Cyprus Mail, Politis and Phileleftheros report on the announcement by TC leader Mustafa Akinci that he held a call with President Nicos Anastasiades. The two leaders highlighted the importance of cooperation within the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health, the papers reported.
Haravgi reports that one of the new cases is a paediatrician at Limassol general hospital who had recently returned from Greece in the last few days and who, according to information went back to work. This has led to closing the hospital’s paediatrics department.
Four of the new cases, among them a nurse at Paphos hospital, relate to a previously confirmed case with whom they came into contact.
Two are also people who returned from Greece and who contacted the authorities once they presented symptoms.
Another case concerns a person at the British Bases and another one is connected to a person whose background is still being investigated.
The condition of a 70-year-old man with coronavirus being treated at the Paphos general hospital is serious due to other health issues he was facing, while a 47-year-old man, also with coronavirus, is on a ventilator, the paper reports.
Politis reports the government is mulling over stricter measures if there is no success in drastically curbing the spread of the virus within the next few days.
It also reports that around 1,000 Cypriots who are stranded abroad and who are among those who were allowed to return without a health certificate, are expected to be repatriated. Until Wednesday evening, the Republic’s embassies abroad issued 610 confirmations giving the green light to these people to return.
Phileleftheros reports that Cyprus is in a state of war with developments and the situation constantly changing causing deep concerns to state authorities. President Nicos Anastasiades will brief political leaders on Thursday and will ask them to submit suggestions to help tackle the pandemic, the paper reports.
Politis, in its main item, reports on the economic measures that aim at supporting businesses and household affected by the measures.
It reports that the approval by cabinet of the bills to support businesses and market liquidity, and the Central Bank’s recommendations to the banking system to effectively facilitate consistent borrowers are shaping a safety net for the economy.
The measures, combined with a reduction in electricity bills, a three-month freeze on foreclosures and employment subsidy plans by the Ministry of Labour, are coming to relieve businesses and households amid heightened uncertainty over basically the freezing of the economy due to measures to limit the spread of coronavirus, the paper reports.
The paper also reports that the Central Bank of Cyprus announced it was relaxing loan origination rules while it freed additional capital amounting to €100m, bringing the total capital buffer to €1.4bn.
The measures are a move to encourage banks to continue lending and show a more flexible stance to business and households affected by the coronavirus epidemic, the paper reports.
New National Guard commander sworn-in
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The new National Guard commander, Lieutenant General Dimokritos Zervakis, was sworn-in on Wednesday at the Presidential Palace, the papers report.
President Nicos Anastasiades said during the swearing in ceremony that Zervakis’ appointment coincides with a defining period concerning the reform of the National Guard but also the country.
He said that Zervakis is called to serve the top mission “of guarding and defending our occupied homeland.”
Zervakis gave reassurances he would do his best for the continuation of the National Guard’s mission, the dailies report.
Financial aid to enclaved farmers
Politis
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Politis reports that cabinet on Wednesday approved an extraordinary budget of €950,000 for the enclaved farmers to help them overcome the situation due to the coronavirus.
The budget concerns two schemes, one for subsidies for crops and citrus the other to support young farmers who resettled to their villages in the occupied areas as well as enclaved fishermen.
The daily also reports that the government continues to send foodstuff to the enclave through UNFICYP and pharmaceuticals through the Red Cross.