Source: CNA

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“The greatest worry people working in ICUs have is not to transfer the virus to their loved ones,” head nurse at the Nicosia General Hospital Costas Koulas tells CNA, adding that “many of them have children, people in their families belonging to vulnerable groups of people, elderly.”

“Their fear is for their families not to fall ill,” he notes.

“It is a heartbreaking situation because one hears from the various media, particularly from abroad, that so many young people are dying because this virus does not discriminate, the staff are afraid that they may contract the virus and possibly infect others,” he says.

However, he stressed, “there is good will among them to play their part in treating these patients, despite the fear they feel.”

Koulas also says that during these crucial times the necessary staff are working double shifts in order for the job to be done. “Working a double shift is a phenomenon happening often. People are tired, working hours are exhausting,” he notes, congratulating the staff and in particular nursing staff for their professionalism during this period and sending he message that the management will stand by them until the crisis is over.

Many health professionals are living in hotels, away from their homes for weeks now, he says, adding that the fact that the number of people contracting the virus is beginning to drop, fills them with joy and optimism.

Replying to a question about the situation in ICUs he says that right now the situation is better and the number of cases has recorded a drop, in particular suspicious cases.

He urged people to continue listening to the advice of experts and to abide by measures so that the crisis, which is causing suffering around the world, can be overcome as soon as possible.

Dr Marios Loizou, the Scientific Director at the Nicosia Directorate of the Cyprus State Health Services Organisation, told CNA that “we can be optimistic,” adding however that “we must not forget even for a moment that the danger is still there.”

“Until an effective vaccine and treatment are found we need to religiously follow the measures we have followed until not,” he stressed.

Asked about the readiness of ICUs in case of a second wave after the summer, Loizou said that “right now ICUs are in a much better state than when the pandemic started,” adding however that “there is still a problem.”

ICUs need to be staffed both with medical, nursing and other staff, he noted, adding that efforts and procedures are ongoing and that the staff is being trained.

In an extreme scenario, where all available ICU beds have to be used as was the case in many countries abroad, “things will not be so pleasant.”

He also said however that every day we have to prepare more means that at least in theory we will be more ready to respond to an extreme scenario.

Loizou also said that the goal is once all units for COVID-19 operate there will be about 120 beds available exclusively for COVID-19 patients.

Source: CNA

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In a post on his Twitter account, Huang also said that 50k masks donated by sister city Guangzhou have arrived and will be distributed island-wise in the next few days.

“China-Cyprus friendship is built to last forever,” he said, citing a Greek phrase which means that power comes from unity.

Source: CNA

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Source: CNA

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Replying to CNA questions, Petrides also said that a steering committee comprised by representatives of the ministries and deputy ministries taking part in the ministerial committee, has been working hard for days now to draft the relevant proposal, including during this weekend.

On Monday, he said, the ministerial committee convene with a view to finalise the proposal which will be presented to President Anastasiades on Tuesday.

The Finance Minister stressed that the ministerial committee will take into account all data presented to it by the epidemiological team and the advisory committee. “We will take into account all scientific, economic and social data available,” he said, adding that “we cannot reach a conclusion only on fragmented data” whether they be of medical, economic or social nature.

Petrides also pointed out that information has been published which does not have any relation to the proposal`s content on the first phase of restarting the economy and easing of measures restricting citizens` movement. “Much of the information presented as decisions are baseless,” he noted.

Source: CNA

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Another reason is, according to Ambassador Huang, the fact that all stakeholders in Cyprus have remained in solidarity and formed a united front against the pandemic. “There used to be different opinions among political parties, interest groups and various communities, whether on internal and external affairs or on the Cyprus problem. However and in the face of the pandemic, the Cypriot people united as a whole, giving unswerving support to the most courageous doctors and nurses to fight the virus and save lives” he says.

Third, the Ambassador of China notes that the general public has been highly cooperative with government measures, showing impressive levels of self-discipline and patriotism, even when measures interrupted life-long Easter traditions. 

“Thanks to the sound policies and positive guidance of the government, the anti-pandemic efforts of Cyprus have been on the right track” the Ambassador goes on and says that extreme remarks find no market and discriminatory behaviors no space. “I have rarely heard complaints of racist acts from Chinese citizens living in Cyprus, in sharp contrast to the situation in the United States and some other countries” he notes.

According to Ambassador Huang, China and Cyprus have fought the pandemic with mutual support and concerted efforts, while the Chinese Embassy has built joint prevention and control mechanisms with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health and other pertinent authorities of Cyprus. 

“I personally keep a hotline contact with Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides and other officials of Cyprus” he goes on and refers to the three batches of Chinese donation that arrived timely in Cyprus. 

“Dawn is ahead, but there is still a long way to go before achieving a full victory against the pandemic” the Ambassador says and appears confident that Cyprus will win the battle.

Source: CNA

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He also noted that this tool could also assist shipping companies in expanding their activities to other markets where opportunity arises due to Covid-19.

“Shipping knows of rough seas but it is a sector that requires political and economic support to avoid significant impact,” Kazakos added.

Furthermore, Kazakos said that shipping addressed practical issues since the outbreak of the disease such as crew changes and ship certificates, affected by containment measures taken worldwide.

Certificates both for seafarers and ships have been extended so that global and Cypriot shipping could still be able to operate until these measures are relaxed.

Source: CNA

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Source: CNA

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The press release points out that the sudden Covid-19 outbreak and an exponentially rising climate change are both posing unprecedented challenges to our planet and the international community at large. “Never has science been so central to our lives as today. The pandemic crisis reinforces the importance of science through evidence-informing government policies and direct role in decision making” PAM points out.

It also recalls that a few days ago, the UN Secretary General, Antonio Gutierres, appealed to the world community on the need to ‘increase ambition and action on climate change especially as countries take measures to recover from the coronavirus crisis’.

In a recent interview,the PAM adds, the UN Secretary General also warned that Covid-19’s long term impact will be ‘to look into climate change, because there is a clear demonstration that when we rebuild our economies, we will have a chance to do it in a more sustainable way.

“Now, that we consume less energy, we move less, it is a moment to look at how to do it better in the future’. In fact, since the beginning of the crisis an increasing number of studies has analysed the direct impact of weakened human activity,” it is underlined.

Accoirding to PAM, due to the limitations imposed in relation to COVID 19, in China, carbon emissions fell by around 25% over a four-week period, and global carbon dioxide emissions could fall by 0.3 percent to 1.2 percent in 2020.

In the EU, daily emissions have fallen 58% compared to precrisis levels. In the UK, air pollution levels have dropped significantly since the country went into lockdown, with some cities observing nitrogen dioxide levels fall by up to 60%. Similarly, in Northern Italy, the Copernicus Satellite system has revealed a drastic reduction in such emissions. “Unfortunately, as indicated by researchers at Istituto Affari Internazionali, ‘it is unlikely that Covid-19 is going to be good for the planet. Reductions in local pollution and greenhouse gas emissions due to lower mobility and economic activity are only going to be temporary’” the PAM says.

It is also interesting to note that the SARS-COV-2, the virus behind the Covid-19 pandemic, might be getting a helping hand from atmospheric pollution. A study from Harvard University connects the impact of the novel coronavirus on highly polluted areas of the U.S. and found correlation between long-term air pollution exposure and consistent rise in the Covid-19 death rate. Moreover, scientists from the Italian National Research Council took into account the high concentration of Covid-19 in the Po river Valley in Italy, one of the most polluted areas in Italy.

Source: CNA

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The framework approved includes three stages covering a timeline until the end of 2021, Petrides said in statements to the Cyprus News Agency, urging everyone at the same time to respect the restrictive measures in place, particularly during the Easter holidays, so that the plan of restarting the economy can become realistic.

“Essentially, with the pandemic in progress and the economic crisis escalating significantly, quite a few EU countries are planning their strategy for a gradual lifting of restrictions,” he said, adding that the European Commission has also issued guidelines aiming for a gradual exit from a general lockdown, so that member states can coordinate to avoid a negative impact between them and in order for the single market to operate smoothly.

Petrides further underlined that “a healthy and functional economy is a prerequisite for a functional health system.”

The strategic plan contains three main stages, while the possibility of transitioning from one stage to the other is largely determined from the epidemiological data, he said.

The first stage has to do with the period of implementation of restrictive measures and the economy support scheme to deal with the COVID-19 repercussions, he noted, which has already been announced to a great extent.

The second stage has to do with the gradual opening of businesses which, if the epidemiological data allow for it, will gradually begin around the beginning of May in sectors of key importance for the economy in a coordinated manner which will not endanger the effort to contain the virus in Cyprus.

“Epidemiological data must be met for the gradual opening of businesses, for example the flattening of the curve of cases, the capacity of the health system and a systematic monitoring done by way of conducting a large number of tests,” the Finance Minister said.

According to Petrides another four criteria will have to be taken into account in determining the strategy in choosing the sectors for gradual lifting of restrictive measures.

In particular, the danger of COVID-19 infections, the danger of serious diseases due to COVID-19, the significance of the relevant economic sector and social life and the possibility of imposing and maintaining safety measures.

He further noted that the measures may change according to different geographic areas, groups of citizens, social life sectors and economic sector. The interdependence between businesses and the economic sectors as well as social interactions will also be taken into account.

The third stage has to do with restarting the economy and it covers the period between September 2020 and December 2021.

“The strategy must be flexible and adaptable depending with the epidemiological data, allowing for economic activity to take place without taking unnecessary risks in health matters,” Petrides stressed, adding that it will include supporting of viable businesses, measures in sectors affected the most, a growth of the digital technology sector and supporting those who will maintain more jobs, as well as stimulating demand.

Petrides also said that the Cabinet has approved the establishment of a ministerial committee, which he will preside over with the participation of Ministers of Health, Energy, Trade and Industry, Transport, Communications and Works, Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance and the Deputy Ministers of Research and Digital Policy and Tourism.

A steering committee will also be established which will be headed by a Finance Ministry representative as well as representatives of the other ministries and officers of the Ministry of Health’s epidemiological monitoring unit.

The ministerial committee, with the support of the steering committee, will prepare and submit the strategy framework as well as the action plan to the Cabinet by the end of April, he said.

Source: CNA

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