Front Page Headlines
Warning bell for resilience of government support
June is the limit for state support to businesses – workers. 1.32 billion euro package uses up budget margins. We do not have limitless resources, Constantinos Petrides repeated.
- Peristerona: Service with congregants: They look for the instigator
Additional needs up to 5 billion
Frightening extreme scenario regarding the economy – 13% contraction and a deficit of more than 1 billion. Coronavirus drains the coffers. Debt at 120% of GNP.
- For invitation to faithful: Criminal investigation against Morphou (Bishop)
- Moscow asks for tax changes from others as well
- Turkish plan for a strike at the islands…
State guarantees won’t get approved without changes
Proposals and concerns for 2 billion euro guarantees. Parties meet again with Finance Ministry. Additional measures suggested, for example on rents.
Plea for party help on loans
Disagreement centres on state-backed cheap loans to offset virus.
Fire from all sides against Supreme Court judges
Because of ruling that cuts in public employees wages are constitutional. Explosion of rage from PASYDY (public employees union), secretary general of PASYDY, PASYDY retirees, ASDYK, Isotita: They accuse judges of showing a contradictory and incongruous stance and announce they will appeal to ECHR – Shots fired also at Attorney General.
- Easter of fear…
Main News
Concern over coronavirus cases found in supermarkets and bakeries
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Human Rights, CBMs
OVERVIEW
The government’s experts told journalists on Monday that if the downward trend in new coronavirus cases of the past two weeks continues, it could be possible to start lifting restrictive measures in May. However, OKYpY (state health services) science director for Nicosia, Marios Loizou, underlined that the Holy Week holidays will be a crucial test. He reitarated that people should avoid visiting each other in their homes and that the utmost care is needed by anyone shopping in supermarkets and bakeries.
On Monday the government announced there had been one more death and another 29 cases of coronavirus detected. Twelve of the new cases all work in the same businesses.
One more person died in the occupied areas on Monday and four new cases were detected, according to reports in the press citing the T/C media.
According to the tally maintained by Phileleftheros, there have been 762 cases of coronavirus and 21 deaths connected to the disease so far: 662 cases and 17 deaths in the government controlled areas and 100 cases and 4 deaths in the occupied areas.
Phileleftheros reports that the Ministry of Health is concerned over the number of cases detected among workers in supermarkets and bakeries. The newspaper reports that two shop chains were ordered to temporarily stop working until it is confirmed that all asymptomatic employees remain home.
The dailies also report that the government is continuing testing workers in the public and private sectors, especially supermarkets and bakeries, as well as workers in the National Guard. By Monday, hospitals had received a total of 396 samples out of a total expected 20,500. Out of these, 6,500 tests will be conducted among health workers.
Newspapers also report that the first two flights of Cypriots being repatriated arrived on Monday from London and Sofia. A total of 148 Cypriots returned with two special flights operated by Aegean Airlines. The persons repatriated include students that are part of vulnerable groups, as well as people that had been abroad due to business reasons.
In another development, Haravgi reports that the Karaiskakio Foundation is facing problems in finding bone marrow donors due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Karaiskakio is working closely with Nicosia General Hospital to provide patients with bone marrow transplants, since donors have been unable to register after restrictive measures were imposed.
Dailies also report on statements made to T/C media by the T/C head of the Technical Committee for Health, Cenk Soydan. Soydan told YeniDuzen that the T/C side is expecting 40 respirators and 5,000 tests sent by the EU through the UNDP. Soydan also mentioned that the north will be receiving free of charge a medicine used against the coronavirus that is being produced in the government controlled areas of Cyprus.
Phileleftheros reports on an announcement issued by all T/C members of the bicommunal Technical Committee for Health, in which they point out that health cannot become a political issue. The members of the committee were replying to criticisms against Mustafa Akinci’s agreement with Anastasiades for the T/C side to receive aid from the G/C side.
European Parliament president replies to President’s letter on Varosha
Phileleftheros
Territory, Property, Negotiations Process, Regional/ International Relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that European Parliament president David Sassoli has replied to a letter to President Nicos Anastasiades regarding the situation in Varosha and the actions taken by the T/C “government” towards the reopening of the fenced off city.
The newspaper publishes the content of the letter which hasn’t been so far publicised by the government or the EP. In the letter, Sassoli is reportedly reiterating his suppor to the government and to the pursuit of a comprehensive solution on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions and EU principles and acquis communitaire. Regarding Varosha, Sassoli underlines that its control should pass to the UN.
Sassoli also reportedly informs Anastasiades that he brought up this issue during a meeting with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu last November in Brussels.