"We feel proud in Cyprus because, as a society and as a state, we have managed to adequately shield our health system, give priority to the vulnerable groups of the population and minimise our losses," Cypriot Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou said in a written statement on Sunday.
"The catalyst behind the successful management of various aspects of the pandemic was the contribution of many people who worked with self-sacrifice. We have repeatedly referred to doctors, both in the public and private sector, and to nursing staff whom we rightly described as front-line heroes. We thank them once again. But there are also others, the silent heroes, who gave their own battles from their fortresses and we owe them a big thanks from the bottom of our hearts," he added.
The minister also thanked ambulance drivers and volunteers. "I would also like to thank the island’s Mental Health Services for setting up a mental health tele-care and support centre for those tested positive with the virus and for their relatives, but also for other people who needed support of this kind during the pandemic," he continued.
However, Ioannou warned that the health risk has not been permanently eliminated.
"Cyprus is now trying to return to normality in a positive and confident way. The health risk has not been totally eliminated and this is why we must all remain vigilant. After all, we have repeatedly said that we do not have the luxury of a setback. 'We will Succeed' is the slogan we have adopted as a goal since the beginning of this crisis and it is not a hollow phrase. It is the promise we have made to each other, to our family, to our neighbourhood, to our society. It is the gift of life we have given to the people we love, the success of our big effort which continues to the end is what is at stake now. I am sure that with the gained additional experience and valuable knowledge, as well as vital competence at all levels, we will again do what we have to do to come out as victors of this ordeal."
