Source: CNA

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Koushos was referring to a government bill on state guarantees to support the business sector which was withdrawn following the disagreement of political parties with various provisions included in it, according to a presidency press release.

He stressed that the government could not risk time consuming procedures which could have been necessary, had the bill been voted to include proposed amendments by the parties, which may have been unconstitutional or against the framework set by the EU and would mean lengthy legal proceedings possibly before the Supreme Court. Such a delay, he noted, “would clearly prevent the economy’s restart and the provision of liquidity.”

Replying to criticism by opposition party AKEL he said that the government’s only concern was “to safeguard jobs and the sustainability of our businesses which are suffering so that the economy and the country can stand once more on its own feet.”

Koushos further said that Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has had meetings with parliamentary party leaders, the parliamentary committee on financial and budgetary affairs has had tens of teleconferences and the Ministry of Finance has communicated with parties tens of times in the last two months, adding that the government has accepted a long list of over 15 amendments which had almost distorted the effort’s philosophy and proceeded to outline a number of them.

He also expressed the government’s readiness to explain to the people precisely which political party proposals it had accepted and which are still pending before the parliamentary committee of finance.

Source: CNA

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A press release issued by the Press and Information Office of the government announces that the Cabinet has approved a proposal by Minister of Justice and Public Order in coordination with Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou to offer 500 free COVID-19 sample tests to judges, lawyers and Court employees across Cyprus.

It adds that the decision was made following the Supreme Court`s approval.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal by Ioannou to subsidize testing for COVID-19 for specific groups of people and patients.

Special groups of people who should be tested for reasons of public health, the press release says, include people who are about to be admitted to places where they will have to stay, homes, shelters and other structures in order to prevent transmission of the disease within.

In particular, this includes elderly people before they are admitted in homes for the elderly, victims of abuse, adults and children before they are admitted to shelters, addicts before they are admitted in rehabilitation clinics, female victims of trafficking before they are admitted to shelters, children or adolescents before they are admitted to relevant structures, people with disabilities, detainees and mentally ill patients.

It also includes special groups of patients before they are treated or have to be hospitalized, people who will undergo surgery, pregnant women before giving birth, patients before they undergo bronchoscopy or gastroscopy and patients who are about to start immunosuppressant treatment.

It is further noted that in all other cases, the advisory scientific committee does not recommend mandatory testing, so if a patient’s physician asks for him or her to be tested, the patient will have to cover the cost.

A testing process for such people is already in place since April 30. A total of 1,100 people belonging to special groups have been tested until May 15 across the island.

Source: CNA

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“We will go ahead with a gradual easing of measures. I hope that in two to three months all measures will be lifted,” Ioannou said replying to CNA questions.

He noted that a gradual easing of measures will be evaluated on the basis of epidemiological indices, provided by the epidemiological unit.

“If on the basis of the evaluation we are on a good track and we can proceed with a gradual but controlled easing of measures, I hope that in two to three months we will return to normality,” he pointed out.

Ioannou continued noting that we also need to continue with hygiene and protective measures in order to prevent a great surge in cases.

The Minister of Health stressed that once measures are eased it should be expected that an increase in confirmed cases will occur, adding that it is important that this increase will be of such a scale which would allow us to continue easing measures and so on.

“Specific indices have been given, on the basis of which measures will be evaluated and if and when on the basis of the indices it is felt necessary, then we may have to go back to the previous state of affairs, that is to say to take some measures,” he pointed out, adding that “we have no other choice.”

At the same time, he clarified that no decision has yet to be taken on the date of easing of restrictive measures nor on the economic sectors which will begin to operate again.

“Everything will take place gradually. What I can tell you is that as a general rule, businesses or economic sectors which have to do with people will be the last to open,” he said, adding that “the more contact a business has with people, the later it will start operating again.”

The message from the data so far is an optimistic one, he said, adding that positive coronavirus cases have reduced.

Although many believe that only the course of positive cases is the factor which shows how the situation progresses, he said, for us the number of our compatriots in ICUs and the number or patients in the COVID-19 reference hospital and other hospitals “is of equal importance.”

As is evident in the last two to three weeks about ten people are in ICUs on a daily basis and about 15 to 20 people are hospitalized in the reference hospital on a daily basis, he said, adding that “this is very important because the number of cases is increasing but the number of people hospitalized in the reference hospital and the ICUs remains the same.”

Unfortunately, Ioannou said, until the vaccine is available, “we have to learn to live with the coronavirus.”

So even if measures are lifted, he said, pointing out that a gradual easing will take place, “self-protection measures must become part of our daily routine and we must continue to take them.”

Otherwise, he warned, a surge in cases will take place.

Asked what will happen with restrictive measures in place in airports, the Health Minister said that “we will listen to the experts’ views, what they have to say as to how airports will begin operating again.”

This is certainly a very sensitive matter, he pointed out, adding that “whatever measures we may take in Cyprus, the virus knows no borders, therefore once airports begin to operate again the danger of importing the virus again and in great numbers will always be there.”

Therefore, he noted, “much thought must go into how they will start operating again.”

He expressed the hope that testing technology will progress so that it can become faster to have results.

Replying to a question on a random testing of 800 people which has been announced, Ioannou said that this will show to what extent the virus has been transmitted in the community. These findings will be very useful and since this is the first research of its kind to take place, the outcomes have been also requested by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

Referring to the public and private hospitals, he said that right now they are operating only for emergency cases, adding that the government will be issuing a decree allowing for appointments to start from Monday onward, while in a few days scheduled operations will also be allowed.

He said an action plan is in place for the operation of hospitals and that a meeting has already been set with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades which will focus on that matter.

Referring to third country nationals who are working in Cyprus, the Minister of Health said that they also fall within the categories to be tested in the context of the 20,000-test drive of professionals in the public and private sector.

There is a difficulty on the number of tests which can be completed on a daily or a monthly basis, but despite that, “we are the only country which has gone ahead with a pro-active testing of 20,000 samples, which we may review.”

Referring to immigrants he said that in coordination with the Ministry of Interior the centers where immigrants are residing are checked and if necessary, we will take further steps.

He also said that during a telephone conversation he had with European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control Director Andrea Ammon, she praised Cyprus for the extensive testing it is doing.

“We are the only country who continues to follow the model of immediately locating positive cases and tracing their contacts, which has now been set as a necessary criterion for all countries easing measures,” he said.  In all other EU countries testing is only done on suspect cases in hospitals.

“We rank fourth in the world for testing,” he noted.

Source: CNA

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Source: CNA

The post Government to spend €850 million in direct support by June amid coronavirus crisis appeared first on LoveCyprus | We Love Cyprus and you will Love it too..

According to the draft, in some justified cases and based on liquidity plans, loans can be increased to cover the liquidity needs for the next 18 months in case of a self-employed person or an SME and the next 12 months when it comes to a large corporation.
 
According to the draft, the plan will be put into force on April 2 until the end of the year.
 

Source: CNA

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Source: CNA

The post The government does not rule out curfew, but no such measure has been decided, Koushos tells CNA appeared first on LoveCyprus | We Love Cyprus and you will Love it too..

The country`s political leadership, both government and political parties, in a spirit of mutual understanding exchanged proposals which will be put down in paper and then sent to Parliament next week to be voted, he said and urged citizens to abide by the advice of staying at home, sending a message that “united in the battle against the coronavirus we will be victorious.”

In statements, Koushos said that the the meeting, that took place at the Presidential Palace, was “extremely productive,” adding that President Anastasiades briefed political party leaders over the government`s more general policy in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak and competent Ministers informed them of individual measures in place and their ministries` plans.

The Government Spokesperson noted that all political party leaders spoke and contributed with their own suggestions, in a spirit of absolute mutual understanding on the principles of the proposals which have been submitted, adding that it was agreed that both governmental and political party proposals would be put down in paper and sent to the parties as soon as possible.

He further pointed out that it is not expected that there will be any disagreement and that the Parliament plenary will be in session next Tuesday or Wednesday so that the Bills which are necessary for measures to be implemented, can be voted. House of Representatives President Demetris Syllouris also confirmed that the plenary would probably take place on Tuesday or Wednesday next week. In a brief statement to the press, he said that a plenary session initially scheduled for tomorrow is now postponed, adding that “it is worth it to delay for three or four days in order to have a complete package of measures.”

In his statements, Koushos noted that “all political leaders expressed their appreciation and their thanks to all public officers who are taking part in the effort against the coronavirus spreading,” he said, adding that “United we will be victorious.”

At the same time he appealed on behalf of the entire political leadership to citizens to be self – disciplined in order to protect their families, relatives and the people in general.

Asked whether the measure of imposing a curfew was discussed, Koushos said that it hadn`t. For the time being, he noted, there is no decision for imposing such a measure.

“We do not make a secret of it however that there are plans for all possible scenario but this will be depend on developments,” he added, stressing that the government is taking decisions which are based on the advice of experts.

At this stage, he continued, there is no intention of implementing further drastic measures, which does not however rule out the possibility of issuing more decrees, which will not contain drastic measures.

Asked about the matter of private sector doctors and their contribution to the effort against the coronavirus, he said that a plan is in place as to where each doctor will serve, but did not wish to go into further details, adding that Minister of Health Constantinos Ioannou is expected to give further details on that matter.

Source: CNA

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