Cyprus Beat

In today's episode, following pressure from opposition lawmakers, the government has agreed to amend certain provisions of the ‘Dangerous Infectious Diseases Law of 2021’, which will repeal and replace the current Quarantine Law under which the health minister has issued the coronavirus decrees. Meanwhile, the government is also thinking of expanding the ‘test to stay’ programme to other populatio...

In today’s episode, the cold snap continues across Cyprus with temperatures overnight falling to -9 °C in some areas, while mountain communities have repeated their complaints about inadequate heating subsidies. In other news, authorities are starting to investigate claims that a connected group, including a well-known Cypriot family, is involved in drugging and raping women in collaboration with...

In today’s episode, confirmed Covid cases will no longer be able to use their SafePass to enter shops and restaurants before their self-isolation period is complete. In other Covid-related news, a 53-year-old man asked to pick up his daughter who had gone to class despite being positive with coronavirus is under police investigation for assaulting a head teacher, and six illegal bird trappers were...

In today’s episode, the Molnupiravir anti-Covid pill became available yesterday and will protect high risk patients from severe Covid-19 disease. In other Covid-related news, the health minister said yesterday that the ‘test to stay’ policy will be applied in schools for students who are close contacts. Meanwhile, mixed signals came from the government yesterday over the mooted EastMed natural gas...

In today's episode, decisions on the implementation of ‘test to stay’ at schools will be finalised on Monday as teachers and the education ministry remain at odds over the policy that will allow children who are contacts of Covid cases to stay in school if they test every day for five day. Meanwhile, Syrian nationals living in a particular property development in the Paphos village of Chlorakas an...

In today’s episode, aced with the prospect of teacher strikes, the government has walked back the launch date for the ‘test to stay’ policy in schools that aims to provide for the daily testing of close contacts of confirmed cases instead of self-isolation. Meanwhile, the future viability of general health scheme Gesy was discussed on Thursday in a meeting chaired by President Nicos Anastasiades,...

In today's episode, the cabinet on Wednesday decided to introduce a ‘test to stay’ at schools, with the aim of keeping them operational and detecting positive cases in a timely manner. Under the rule, close contacts of confirmed cases that have no history of vaccination, instead of having to isolate, will undergo a daily rapid test for a period of five days. Meanwhile, 11 people arrested in connec...

In today’s episode, Paphos residents have spoken of a “nightmare earthquake” yesterday after one of the strongest quakes recorded in Cyprus rattled the island in the early morning. In other news, the United States has confirmed media reports of its misgivings over the EastMed subsea natural gas pipeline, in an apparent U-turn over a project supported by the former Trump administration, and Ioannis...

In today's episode, Disy leader Averof Neophytou yesterday submitted his candidacy as party nominee for the 2023 presidential elections, asserting confidently that his party will win and retain power for five more years. Meanwhile, to replace the former Foreign Minister and possible presidential candidate Nikos Christodoulides, President Nicos Anastasiades has appointed veteran politician Ioannis...

In today’s episode, Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides has announced his resignation, expressing an interest in running for president in 2023. In other news, dozens of people gathered outside the Archbishopric in Nicosia on Sunday to protest the ultimatum given to unvaccinated priests to get jabbed or be punished, and a 25-year-old man has been arrested and charged with circulating a forged Sa...

In today’s episode and following expanded Covid measures that came into effect yesterday, President Nicos Anastasiades said the aim had been not to impose a new lockdown. In more Covid news, Cyprus is among a list of countries projected to achieve the vaccination target of 70 per cent of the total population by mid-2022 set by the World Health Organisation (WHO). In other news, Two men from Camero...

In today’s episode, final decisions over tightening measures against coronavirus will be taken by the Council of Ministers this morning after President Nicos Anastasiades yesterday met the advisory team. In more Covid news, the health ministry yesterday appealed for patience as huge queues again formed at both rapid test and vaccinations sites, saying that nursing staff shortages were partly respo...

In today's episode, Covid-19 continues to plague the island as 5,024 tested positive to the virus on Monday and two men aged 84 and 62 died. Hospitalisations have risen to 201, 75 of whom are in serious condition Archbishop Chrysosotmos, meanwhile, has expressed concern that possible new measures, which have so far largely excluded church-going activities, might threaten the January 6 Epiphany cer...

In today's episode, within the next few days 100 per cent of Covid-19 cases on the island are expected to be due to the Omicron variant, health minister Michalis Hadjipantelas said on Sunday. Elsewhere, a total of 640 children received the vaccine as one centre at the State Fair in Nicosia was open only to them in the weekend. Finally, investigations are ongoing after the Big Potato erected at the...

In today's episode, coronavirus hit a new all-time record on Thursday with 3,851 people testing positive continuing the upward trend that began on Monday. In other news, a new orange weather warning is in place until 5pm today as the met office expects extended bouts of rain coupled with downpours in some areas. Elsewhere, police are reminding public that, as of January 1, the new speed cameras sy...

In today's episode, five deaths and a new record of 3,002 Covid-19 infections were announced yesterday as the government further tightened restrictions in an attempt to halt the unprecedented spread of the virus. In other news, a family tragedy unfolded on Wednesday when a man was accidentally shot dead by his teenage son while the two were out hunting. Elsewhere, the met office has issued a yello...

In today's episode, a 53-year-old man was murdered in central Larnaca on Tuesday evening, police said after they were called to investigate reports of gunshots in the Touzhane area of Mackenzie. In other news, earlier warnings of a further rise in coronavirus cases came true on Tuesday as the health ministry announced a new record of 2,241 positives, breaking Monday’s record of 1,925. Elsewhere, a...

In today's episode, Cyprus recorded a daily record of Covid cases on Monday with 1,925 people testing positive. A new record for the number of tests done in one day was also recorded at 121,127 PCR and rapid tests. This resulted in a positivity rate of 1.5 per cent. In other news, a 44-year-old man who was detained for six days in connection with a hit-and-run in which a 60-year-old woman died has...

In today's episode, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas has urged the public to adhere to health protocols amid a surge in new Covid-19 infections and concerns that the Omicron variant could send numbers spiraling. In other news, a 30-year-old man has admitted to breaking into the home of the victim of Sunday’s hit-and-run and the case has been submitted to the district court. Elsewhere, Presid...

In today's episode, a new archaeological museum - dubbed the 'biggest cultural project in the country' - is to be built in Nicosia at a cost €121m. On a related note, eminent Cypriot archaeologist and Emeritus Professor Vassos Karageorghis had died at the age of 92. There's also Disy leader Averof Neophytou's announcement that he will run for president. Elsewhere, the president vetoed a bill which...

In today's episode, around 600 migrants were transferred out of the Pournara holding camp on Tuesday after 82 people were found positive to Covid-19. In other news, the cabinet tightened coronavirus regulations meaning weekly tests will have to be taken by all workers, except those who have had the booster jab. Elsewhere, Larnaca is a step closer to getting the island’s biggest development project...

In today's episode, changes to coronavirus measures are on the table during a council of ministers meeting this morning that could see restrictions tightened, and, as of today, fully vaccinated people will be able to pick up self-test kits from pharmacies. In other news, the transport ministry has said that measures to stem bloodshed on the roads are being reviewed, and the supreme court has categ...

In today’s episode, the orange weather warning issued by the met office remains in place until 1pm today as Storm Carmel hit the island yesterday. In other news, a 74-year-old man who confessed to killing his wife, 75, on Saturday evening was remanded by the court for eight days, and authorities have identified the remains of a seven-year-old boy killed by British soldiers in 1956. All these stori...

In today’s episode, Deputy Minister for Tourism Savvas Perdios unveiled details of the ‘National Strategy for Tourism' for 2022 after two devastating years. In other news, the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 begins in Cyprus today, and police are investigating one of their own after he sought to fly to Athens from Larnaca without going through security checks. All these stories and more on yo...

In today's episode, the state’s 2022 budget looks set to get the green light, as Diko and Dipa expressed support for ruling Disy’s proposal. In other news, as of yesterday, only people who received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine will be permitted entry areas such as cafes and bars, as well as social events such as weddings and baptisms. They also have to have a negative test. Elsewhere,...