Cyprus in a 2-week lockdown - All the new measures announced by the Minister of Health
The crucial Council of Ministers was completed shortly before 14:30 on Friday (23/4) for the measures that will be in force.
The large increase in cases has caused headaches for the authorities who are looking for ways to limit the spread of the virus in the community.
After long discussions of the President of the Republic, Nikos Anastasiadis, first with the epidemiological team and then with the Council of Ministers, the following decisions were made:
From Monday, April 26, 2021, at 5 in the morning, until Sunday, May 9, 2021, at midnight the Council of Ministers decided:
Traffic is prohibited from 9 pm to 5 am the next day except in the following cases:
(a) travel to and from workplaces, as well as for work purposes using the Employee Traffic Certificate Form;
(b) going to a medical center or hospital or pharmacy or veterinarian for medical emergencies.
Prohibition of gatherings, public or social events, regardless of private or public, indoor or outdoor (eg squares, dams, picnic areas, marinas).
Exceptionally and only on Easter Sunday (May 2), in addition to the permanent residents, the presence in the homes of persons is allowed provided that they come from only two families and provided that the total number of people in the house does not exceed 10 people, including and minors.
It is allowed to travel only once per person per day by sending a text message to 8998. To go for vaccination purposes for COVID-19, text messaging is not required.
Church worship and other forms of religious worship in religious places will be performed without the presence of believers.
Religious ceremonies (weddings, baptisms, funerals) with a maximum number of 10 people are allowed.
The presence of believers in places of religious worship is permitted for the purposes of individual prayer and with a maximum number of 10 people inside the place.
Only for the Resurrection Mass on Holy Saturday (May 1) the presence of believers in the courtyard of the sanctuaries is allowed, in accordance with the distance measure and the sanitary protocol that applies to the operation of the churches and provided that arrangements will be made for the attendees to attend sitting . Inside the temples, only on Holy Saturday is allowed the presence of up to 50 people, according to the protocol. On all other days of Holy Week, the presence of believers in places of religious worship, either indoors or outdoors, is prohibited.
On Holy Saturday (May 1), to facilitate the participation of the faithful in the Resurrection Sequence, instead of 9 pm on Saturday, the travel ban begins at 1 am (Holy Saturday to Easter Sunday). All other days, the travel ban remains in place (9 pm).
In public services, teleworking is mandatory for at least 20% of the staff, with the exception of the essential and other services that will be defined by Decree.
Private service companies are allowed the simultaneous physical presence of 20% of their staff, with a minimum number of employees of 3 persons and a maximum number of 25 persons per professional establishment / legal entity.
Increase the rate of mandatory rapid detection tests on a weekly basis by 50% of employees. It is understood that companies / services that will have a physical presence of up to five (5) people, the test is mandatory for all five people.
All restaurants (restaurants, taverns, cafes, pubs, snack bars and bars, cafes and restaurants within shopping malls, canteens and / or sports clubs, cultural clubs, clubs, clubs, etc.) are suspended their services related to home delivery and take away. It is understood that after 9 pm only home delivery is allowed.
Outdoor and indoor theaters, amphitheaters, cinemas, and auditoriums are suspended.
The operation of retailers, other than beverages and food retailers or retailers as specified in the Decree, shall be suspended.
The operation of gyms, dance schools and schools of other sports is suspended. Personal training is allowed in open outdoor areas where access is allowed under the Decree with a maximum of two people.
The operation of gambling and betting companies is suspended.
The operation of barbershops, hairdressers and beauty salons is suspended.
All group tutoring, as well as sports and social activities for children under 18 are prohibited. Of course, distance learning is allowed as well as teaching with the physical presence of up to two people including the instructor (1 + 1).
From 10η May 2021 the above measures are lifted and the current regulations are restored, provided that in places where there is gathering (restaurants, gathering places, gym, retail, theaters, etc), the visitor must have the rapid test or PCR valid for 72 hours or have been vaccinated with at least 1η dose and have passed three weeks or have become ill from the disease COVID-19 the last 3 (three) months. The adoption of the above regulation will enable the easier and safer movement of our fellow citizens and will allow us to return safely to more normal conditions.