ECONOMY

Cyprus Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou, announced that the island goes into a 3 week lockdown to contain the virus as there is a surge in new cases and the situation at the hospitals is alarming.

The measures go into effect on Sunday morning. Minister Constantinos Ioannou said that curfew remains between 9 at night and 5 in the morning and all meetings at private and public spaces are prohibited. Citizens are allowed to walk in parks and at the beach for physical exercise purposes and only two at a time. Citizens will be allowed to send up to 2 sms per day for their movements. A list of the purposes for which movement with the use of sms is allowed will be released during the day.

Ioannou said that work from home will be introduced for the public sector and local authorities with an exception for essential services which will be included in a new decree to be issued later today. Moreover, church services will be taking place without attendees and weddings, baptisms and funerals will take place with a maximum of ten people.

Services of the construction sector will remain open as well as food and beverage retail companies and other companies which will be announced by the Labour Ministry. Hair salons, beauty parlours, tattoo parlours will also remain closed and remote education will be introduced for elementary and high schools. Kindergartens remain open.

The Minister also said that more rapid tests will be carried out for the population and for the businesses that will remain open during the lockdown.

Source: CNA