Cyprus to receive first batch of covid-19 vaccine on December 26

Cyprus will receive its first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine on December 26 and will begin administering it the following day, according to the Healthy Ministry.

“Following the much-anticipated approval of the Pfzizer vaccine by the European Medicines Agency, it is only a matter of time before the flight with the first batch of vaccines arrives. As everything indicates, the arrival of the first batch will take place the day after Christmas,” senior health official Olga Kalakouta said.

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades will be among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Priority will be given to health professionals and care home employees. After, citizens above 80 will be prioritised and those above 75 who belong to vulnerable groups.

Cyprus brings in tighter coronavirus measures

Churches will be open on Christmas & New Year in Cyprus

Cypriot Minister of Health Konstantinos Ioannou, announced the easing of precautionary measures against the coronavirus for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

According to the Minister of Health, churches will be open to the faithful on Christmas Day and Epiphany on January 6, with limits on the number of people allowed inside.

There will be a limit of 75 people allowed in churches, who must observe the social distancing measures, that is one person per 3 sq.m.

If necessary, more services are likely to be performed on the same days to avoid overcrowding.

It is recalled Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades met on Monday evening and discussed a number of issues, including reopening churches.