The Cyprus Ministry of Health announced tighter measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, entering into force on Friday, December 11.
"There is no such thing as good or nice restrictions, these are necessary, and mainly unpleasant, but we have to safeguard life. Our health comes first," Cyprus' Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou told a news conference.
The new measures in Cyprus which will be in place until December 31:
The operation of malls is suspended. Superstores, department stores and large stores over 500 sq.m. (excluding food retail, i.e. supermarkets) will operate in compliance with the measure of 1 person per 10 sq.m. and with a ceiling on the number of customers.
The operation of catering establishments is suspended. This includes restaurants, taverns, cafés, pubs, and bars, with the exception of their delivery and take away services. It is understood that after 9 p.m. only home delivery is permitted.
Church services and other forms of religious worship in religious sites shall be performed without the presence of congregants.
Religious ceremonies (weddings, christenings, funerals) are permitted with a maximum of 10 persons attending.
As of Monday, 14 December, lessons/courses in public and private Lyceums, Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions will be taught online. Kindergartens, Primary Schools and Gymnasiums continue to operate normally.
Visiting patients at hospitals, clinics and medical centers is not permitted.
A ban on public gatherings/events, protests, parades, festivals and concerts in public or private areas remains in place.
The maximum occupancy in public transport is regulated by the Minister of Transport.
Larnaca and Limassol ports will continue to operate for commercial transactions and activities only, while cruise ships may not disembark passengers.
A ban on all children’s sports and social activities, and the closure of indoor and outdoor sport facilities.
"Together we will try to stop this deterioration of the situation, now that we still can. As I mentioned before, we will constantly re-evaluate the facts before the expiration of the measures, in the hope that, if conditions allow, the measures will be revised during the festive season," Ioannou added.
He also noted that the first batch of vaccines will arrive in the next few weeks. "We are currently preparing the vaccination programme, which will be announced very soon, so that the procedures to be followed are made known."
"Cyprus participates in all EU procedures to acquire the vaccine and I want to assure you that the State has taken all the necessary steps in order to provide the possibility of free vaccination to all Cypriot citizens, who wish to be vaccinated," he continued.
