The Ministry of Health decided that those who arrived in Cyprus within the previous government decree and were asked to leave on Monday, were given the option to either complete their 14-day stay at the hotel or remain in isolation at home.

The decision was taken by the Ministry of Health after a recommendation of the Transport Ministry and the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, following a request by a number of people to protect themselves and their families.

Those who arrive from Monday and until 8^th June, will undergo a COVID-19 test and will be transferred to hotels until the result is ready. If the result is positive, they will either be transferred for isolation at the Eden resort Wellness, Rehabilitation Centre or remain at home isolation and will be monitored by their personal physician. If the result is negative, they will remain in self-isolation, according to the provisions of the decrees and health protocols.

Those who are close contacts of confirmed cases will remain in quarantine at hotels for two more days and will undergo a second COVID-19 test to ascertain whether they became ill from contact with a confirmed case during repatriation. If the second test is negative, they will return home to complete the 14-day self-isolation.

Meanwhile, Dr. Petros Karayiannis, a Professor of Microbiology/Molecular Virology at the University of Nicosia Medical School and member of the Ministry of Health Scientific Advisory Committee urged repatriates from now on to take seriously the situation and remain in self-isolation.

He said the situation remains stable while the seven confirmed cases announced on Sunday from repatriates were “imported” and not locally infected. He also said schools are now in a routine.

Karayiannis said that we must allow 15 days to see the results of the second relaxation of the lockdown measures.
Regarding repatriates, he said they will undergo tests, especially those who returned from the UK.

However, he said they need to appreciate the seriousness of the situation and follow measures and self-isolate responsibly.
When the airports re-open on 9 June, Karayiannis said that there will be at least three hotels for quarantine, if tourists become ill.
He expressed the view hotels are ready to open and are prepared, according to the decrees. There are enough outdoor areas and he did not believe there will be crowding.

Regarding the opening of churches, he said everything went smoothly with the priests completely aware of what to do and there was order inside the churches.

What concerns the Scientific Advisory Committee, he said, is the overcrowding at cafeterias and restaurants where self-protection measures and especially distances are not adhered to.

We are worried because if there is a case and transmission, it will be hard to know from where someone became infected as tracing will become harder.

As far as beaches are concerned, he said due to the weather conditions, it was not possible to see if people were maintaining distances or if the beds were properly cleaned. Karayiannis said beds need to be properly disinfected. “Even if they spray we have to ensure that when the wind blows, it doesn`t take away the spray or dries it quickly and doesn`t have time to act. It is something that the municipalities should need to handle well “, he added.

Source: CNA

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Source: CNA

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The planning will continue, based on the available quarantine rooms, he said, adding that an average of 2,000 people will be repatriated every two weeks. The first repatriation will be from the United Kingdom and Greece, followed by other countries.  Karousos clarified that those who return home will now have to pay the cost of their ticket.

Pointing out that many people belonging to the vulnerable groups have already returned, he added that the first wave will be repatriated in the next 15 to 20 days, according to preferences posted on the Foreign Ministry’s online portal. As he said, a total of 1,971 people said they wanted to come back to Cyprus between 15-30 April. Of those, 758 are students who are enrolled in Foundation Courses or are freshmen. Karousos noted that the completion of repatriation of these students, will pave the way for all Cypriot citizens or permanent residents of the Republic of Cyprus to return home.

Asked on the duration of the planning, Karousos said that the planning will continue as long as the decrees for the ban on flights last. He added that people will come back, depending on the availability of quarantine rooms.

He also said that the Government will ask for offers for ticket prices per airport and region, based on the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s grouping. Beneficiaries will then be informed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on which flight they can travel, but also on the cost and procedure to be followed after their return, which also requires a two-week quarantine stay. Finally, the airline will contact those interested to issue a ticket.

The biggest interest, according to the Minister of Transport, is expressed by  people in the United Kingdom, followed those in Greece, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States. Karousos also said that according to the protection measures taken, a third of the plane would be empty. Therefore, an 189-seat plane will be able to carry up to 112 passengers, he added.

The Ministry of Transport, as he said, is doing its utmost to repatriate citizens in cooperation with the crisis management team, adding that co-ordination and co-operation between Ministries and services was needed.

Source: CNA

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A presidency press release said that President Anastasiades, taking into account the view of the Health ministry’s Scientific Group and in an effort to put an end to any uncertainty or speculation expressed in good faith, would like to state that the gradual and controlled repatriation programme will be implemented as follows:

The Deputy Minister of tourism, after discussions with the hoteliers’ leadership, has secured one thousand beds with the total number of beds available for quarantine purposes now around 2000.

In addition, according to the criteria which have been decided and the tables prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, taking into account where possible the wish of those who have expressed their desire to repatriate on the relevant platform, the repatriation will be done as follows:
First, persons (students and non-students) who are part of the vulnerable groups according to the medical council decision, students that are living in university accommodations and are registered in Foundation courses prior to registering for the first year of their undergraduate course or are in the first year of undergraduate studies.
Other beneficiaries are (Cypriot citizens, students and non-students, those legally residing in the Republic of Cyprus and persons who have the right to enter the Republic based on the Vienna convention), according to the timeframe for repatriation which they have registered on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ relevant platform.

The President notes that the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works has undertaken the responsibility to complete the repatriation operation through charter flights. The cost of repatriation would be borne by the citizens, except where the flight is provided free of charge by airlines or other agencies and in cases of persons that the Republic has sent abroad for medical purposes.

 At the same time, the President clarified that the state will undertake the cost of compulsory stay (14 days of quarantine) and tests for coronavirus which those repatriated will have to undergo.

Source: CNA

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It is clarified that any decisions concerning repatriation will be made taking into consideration the situation as it evolves and the required opinion of the scientific advisors of the government.

In addition, it is understood that all those entering the territory of the Republic of Cyprus will remain for a period of 14 days from their arrival in mandatory isolation (quarantine) at premises indicated by the State, except persons who had traveled abroad for medical reasons. These individuals will remain in self-isolation in order to continue their treatment unhindered, the Foreign Ministry said.

It is also understood that all the above persons, upon entering the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, will be subject to testing for COVID-19 virus after which all steps provided for in the relevant medical protocol will be followed, the press release concluded.

Source: CNA

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