New restrictions as of today.....

As you all know, further restrictions have been put in place by the government last night in terms of increased mask use and curfews in the Paphos and Limassol regions.

Last night, a clarification statement was published to help understand the implications of what can and can't be done.
Below is a translation of the guidance and whilst it is there to assist, we cannot take any responsibility for the content as it may be subject to further clarification or change at any time, from the point we published it.at 9.50 am on the 23/10/2020.

Above all else, as ever:

•    keep your hands clean by washing regularly

•    Avoid touching your mouth eyes and nose when out in public

•    Keep 2 metres apart from strangers

•    Use hand sanitiser when you enter and leave a shop

•    Keep your mask on in public!


Transcript of the greek posting:

Updated government statement for use of masks English from the Greek posting below.

Updated directive on the compulsory use of masks by the general population indoors and outdoors In order to protect citizens and Public Health from COVID-19 disease, with today's decision of the Council of Ministers, the use of a protective mask by the general population, aged 12 and over, becomes mandatory in all interiors where there is more than one people and in all outdoor areas, as well as Public Transport (taxis, buses, etc.).

The following are excluded from the above setting:

Houses, People who actively drink or eat, People traveling in a personal vehicle alone or with other family members (including minor children), People during sports / exercise (eg gyms, dance schools, etc.), Grills / cooks, only during cooking, People with special cognitive skills / mental / developmental disorders who do not comply with mask application, People with severe neurological / neuromuscular disease who are unable to wear the mask, and People with anatomical maxillofacial variations / deformities and / or injury. The above regulation will be valid from the October 23, 2020, with the issuance of the relevant Decree.

It is reminded that the non-observance of the measures constitutes a violation of a Decree by the citizen himself and the fine of € 300 is borne by the citizen himself and not the company / establishment.

It is noted that the maximum wholesale and retail price of masks is set in the Decree of the Minister of Health, dated 20 August 2020. Any violation of this Decree should be reported immediately to phone 1429 (Consumer Line) to take the appropriate measures.

https://www.pio.gov.cy/αν^ … 16407#flat

Good Morning Everyone, by now everybody should've read the new Government restrictions in place.

Due to these new COVID restrictions the following rules are in place at most venues
They will now have to close at 10.30pm, drinks will not be served after 10pm, they too have to get home before the curfew, which will be in place between 11.00 pm and 5.00 am.

Everybody must have their face mask available whilst your on their premises. At anytime the police checkers may come and ask you if you have one. In some venues the staff will also ask.
The rules are masks are not required only if actively eating or drinking, at all other times your mask will need to be worn, please on entry to the premises, moving around the premises and to enter the premises restrooms 🚻 masks will have to be worn. No mask no entry, that is any time of the day/night.

Table:- maximum of 6 only at a table. Tables can not be moved as they are set at the required distance.

They understand this is difficult for everyone including the staff.... all they ask is please be mindful for the next few weeks, be patient and kind to each other and their premises staff at any venue.

Thank you all and lets work together and get it right

STAY SAFE STAY ALERT STAY HEALTHY STAY IN GOOD SPIRITS STAY CALM

Official press release

Decision of the Council of Ministers on the implementation of island-wide
contingency measures and in Limassol and Paphos Districts in particular
Due to the rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases being recorded in Cyprus
during the last 14 days and the spread of the virus in the community, and taking into
consideration the geographical allocation of the outbreaks as well as the qualitative
analysis carried out until this morning, the Council of Ministers in its meeting today
under the President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades, has decided the
following measures with the aim of controlling and preventing further infections and
the spreading of the virus in the community and protecting Public Health.
More specifically, the following measures are applied across the whole of Cyprus:
1. The maximum number of persons allowed to gather in houses and public
places, with the exception of catering establishments, is set at 10 per
house/group, inclusive of under-age children.
2. The maximum number of persons allowed to be served in catering
establishments is set at 75 in indoor areas and 150 in outdoor
areas. The social distancing measure of 3 sq.m. for indoor areas and 2 sq.m.
for outdoor areas per person, regardless of the area of each establishment
in square metres, continues in force in each case. For instance, if a catering
establishment has an outdoor area of 400 sq.m. and on the basis of the social
distancing measure of 2 sq.m. per person it could serve up to 200 persons,
the number of customers may not exceed 150. If an establishment has an
indoor area of 300 sq.m. and on the basis of the social distancing measure it
could serve 100 persons, the number of persons may not exceed 75.
3. The maximum number of persons per reservation/table/group in catering
establishments may not exceed 6 persons.
4. Church services as well as other religious ceremonies shall be performed in
accordance with the guidelines by the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus.
5. The holding of matches in sport facilities in the context of athletic
championships is allowed without spectators being present, provided the
relevant protocols are observed.
6. The functioning of open-air cinemas, theatres and performance halls is
allowed at 50% capacity.
7. Cocktail parties and well-wishing ceremonies at weddings and christenings
are prohibited. Physical presence is only allowed at lunch or dinner with a
maximum number of 350 persons attending.
8. Food and drink retail trade businesses (bakeries, supermarkets, mini-markets,
etc.) and pharmacies shall only serve persons aged 60 and over and persons
with disabilities as of the time of their opening until 9 a.m. inclusive.
9. The use of facemask by the general population aged 12 years and above is
made compulsory in outdoor public places.
In addition to the above and on account of the deteriorating epidemic situation and
the increased epidemiological load in the cities and districts of Limassol and
Paphos, and having taken into consideration the latest data showing that in the
Limassol District the cumulative impact is 180 persons per 100.000, that is, over the
150 persons used by the ECDS in placing an area within the red zone and the
cumulative impact in the Paphos District in the last 14 days shows an increasing
trend exceeding 80 persons per 100.000, the following additional measures have
been decided:
1. The functioning of catering places (restaurants, catering areas in hotels and
other tourist accommodation, taverns, cafeterias, pizzerias, pubs, snack-bars,
bars, coffee shops and catering areas in canteens or/and sports clubs,
cultural circles, societies, associations, etc.) is allowed until 10.30 p.m. It is
clarified that the above outlets may provide home-delivery services after
10.30 p.m.
2. The movement of citizens is banned from 11 at night until 5 in the morning
of the next day, excluding movement for emergency medical reasons
(to/from a pharmacy, hospital) or for work purposes by presenting a relevant
certification or documentation.
3. All afternoon sports and social activities for children under 18 years of age,
are suspended (e.g. football, dancing, swimming, martial arts, theatre, choir
singing, etc.)
4. Championship matches for athletes below 18 who are based in the Districts
of Limassol and Paphos, are suspended. For example, if a team based in the
District of Limassol or Paphos is playing with a team of the Nicosia District,
the match shall be suspended until the measures are lifted.
The above measures, which shall be regulated by a Decree of the Minister for Health
to be issued today, come into effect as of tomorrow, 23 October 2020, lasting until
9 November 2020

SOURCE  https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/uplo … rgikou.pdf

AND THEN

CLARIFICATION IN WEDDINGS

Clarifications on organizing weddings and christenings
In the context of today’s decisions of the Council of Ministers on the taking of extra
measures island-wide and in relation to the organizing of weddings and christenings
for the period until 9 November, it is recalled that cocktail parties and well-wishing
ceremonies are banned with physical presence only allowed at lunch or dinner
with a maximum number of 350 persons attending.
Provided that the maximum number of persons allowed per table is 6, in
accordance with the provisions of the Decree.
It should be pointed out that in the Districts of Limassol and Paphos in particular, the
measure of lockdown from 11 at night until 5 in the morning of the next day is being
introduced as of tomorrow, 23 October, until 9 November. Also, the catering venues
in the two Districts, including the venues where weddings and christenings are
performed, are allowed to stay open until 10.30 p.m.

SOURCE
https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/uplo … ddings.pdf

I can see a problem arising with collection and return of passengers from / to airprorts during the hours of curfew.... 111pm to 5am daily

It seems some believe that as long as the collector has a copy of the passengers flight passes and/or passenger locator forms a person can travel to and from the airport during the hours of curfew .... however there is absolutely no mention of it in the official decision. it may come down to common sense and / or the mood of the police at the time of stop.... so be aware.

It could be an expensive trip at €300 per person fine (rather than say a €40 taxi trip),
if the police stop a driver and are awkward, as it has been said that the Ministry of Health interpret the decision differently to the way the police do...

a further clarification

Another main point of confusion has been over what the policy of mask-wearing is at restaurants, bars and cafes. Essentially, when you are sat at the table you do not have to wear a mask. But you do have to wear a mask at all other times: when getting up to go to the toilet, to greet someone at another table or upon entering or exiting the establishment.

These were the exemptions for mask wearing
Exceptions:
Homes
People actively eating or drinking
People travelling in private
During physical exercise
Cooks only during cooking
People with special mental/developmental disorders who do not comply with the use of mask
People with serious neurological/neuromuscular disease who cannot deal with the mask
People with malformations and or injuries
The above will be in force as of 15 October 2020.

as far as I am aware this hasnt change but may do going forward

350 at a wedding!!!!!!!

Yes as long as they’re sitting and eating that’s all

Clarification

Authorities were forced to clarify on Friday what wearing a mask in the open air actually entailed as police initially said the decree applied to everyone even if out walking on their own, a statement they retracted later in the day even as another 160 cases were announced.

Warnings also came that if numbers did not fall, the curfews imposed on Limassol and Paphos would be implemented islandwide.

In also emerged on Friday that not all of the scientific team agreed with the blanket mask mandate. One source close to the team told the Cyprus Mail, it had been discussed previously and was on the cards if the situation became worse. Cases have surged to triple digits over the past week.

“It was discussed at an earlier stage and it was on the cards for some time later if there was a more generalised islandwide transmission,” the source said, referring to the spikes and extra measures such as a curfew imposed on Limassol and Paphos. “It came as a surprise,” the source added in reference to the cabinet decision on Thursday.

This was confirmed by Constatinos Tsioutis and Giorgos Nikolopoulos, members of the epidemiological team. Both said in an interview that the decision was political and not all of the team completely agreed on the issue.

Many others saw the move decreed by the government on Thursday as nonsensical to fine someone if they were  out walking alone with no one else around but police interpreted it literally, saying that was their job to enforce the law as decreed.

Police spokesman Christos Andreou told the Cyprus Mail early on Friday that the decree mandates masks be worn in all outside areas.

For the police, it appeared unequivocal: “It says outdoor areas, it doesn’t even specify public areas,” Andreou said.

However, he explained that the police would use their experience and judgement to determine genuine exceptions. When it comes whether a person walking down a street is exercising or not, he gave the example of a person walking with the appropriate shoes compared to a person wearing high-heels and then claiming to be exercising.

Later in the day, in an announcement, police said an individual walking alone, with a pet, or who was exercising outside in his neighbourhood or in a non-crowded park did not need to wear a mask.

Portugal when it issued an identical decree on Friday specified clearly from the outset that mask-wearing applied to busy places like city streets or wherever social distancing could not be guaranteed.

The announcement by Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou on Thursday by contrast led to widespread confusion, leaving officials on Friday scrambling to clarify.

“If a couple from the same household are walking in a park and there is no one nearby for 3-4 metres then they don’t have to wear a mask,” Margarita Kyriacou, health ministry spokeswoman, told the Cyprus Mail. “But if they are taking a walk in Ledra Street in Nicosia they do have to wear a mask because there are lots of people there,” she said. Kyriacou reassured that police had been instructed to be flexible where possible.

The other main point of confusion has been over what the policy of mask-wearing is at restaurants, bars and cafes. Essentially, when you are sat at the table you do not have to wear a mask.

But you do have to wear a mask at all other times: when getting up to go to the toilet, to greet someone at another table or upon entering or exiting the establishment.

Epidemiological team member, Mario Koliou told CyBC on Friday night that currently half of all positive cases every day were coming from Limassol and many also from Paphos.”

However, she added that all districts had seen spikes even some were bigger than others.

“If the situation continues, then these measures will be the same for all of Cyprus,” Koliou said, referring to Limassol and Paphos.

Dr Petros Karayiannis, Professor of Microbiology/Molecular Virology at the University of Nicosia Medical School, also expressed concern on Friday. He thought it was because health protocols were not being strictly observed.
“We are talking about 900 active cases of the virus, maybe even more.  There are also asymptomatic persons who pose great risk and have not been identified since it is more the symptomatic patients who come for testing. But we must definitely have asymptomatic ones because at the moment we are seeing a reversal of the situation we had in the Summer, where we had 40 per cent of the cases due to asymptomatic people. At the moment, however, 70 per cent of our cases have symptoms “, he noted.

He said that in the next ten days we should have a gradual but significant drop of cases, otherwise, he said, the measures taken in the districts of Limassol and Paphos would be applied in other districts as well.

SOURCE - - https://cyprus-mail.com/2020/10/24/coro … 3kVyyp_c1c