September 3, 2021

Tendency for division in Cypriot society due to vaccination, survey finds

There is a tendency for division in the society due to the issue of vaccination against COVID19, a survey conducted by the Market Business Intelligence of the University of Nicosia with the cooperation of the Federation of Patient Organisations of Cyprus shows. The survey also showed that the majority of citizens are in favour of the vaccination.

The results of the survey were presented by Constantinos Phellas, Senior Vice Rector at the University of Nicosia and member of the Scientific Advisory Committee. The survey took plae in August with the participation of 2,038 people.

Addressing the event, Minister of Health Michalis Hadjipantelas said that the results of the survey will be taken into consideration for the Ministry`s communication policy regarding vaccination.

He pointed out that the conclusion of the survey is that while the vast majority of citizens have been vaccinated, there are still fear and concerns, some of which could be described as valid, but also fear that is created by conspiracy theories, and misinformation.

The Minister noted that more than 110,000 people in Cyprus have been infected with the coronavirus and according to experts, 30% of them continue to suffer months after their infection.

Presenting the survey, Phellas said that although the vast majority (39%) of those who participated in the survey said they had no problem with those who disagree with their views, there is a percentage of 22% (almost one in four) who state that they can not communicate with people who do the opposite and a 6% who said that they do not even include them in their social circle.

In addition, he said that the majority of citizens are in favour of the vaccination, since 87% of the participants in the survey are either vaccinated or will be vaccinated in the very near future. Only 6% are categorically against vaccination and 7% have not decided yet.

Phellas added that the confrontation between those vaccinated and the unvaccinated is not the appropriate approach since it does not contribute to anything positive in this crucial time. It only achieves to undermine human relationships, he said, adding that the primary goal should be how to save lives.

He said that the highest acceptance of the vaccine is among the age group of 60 years and over, where more than nine out of ten (92%) said that they have already been vaccinated.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

September 3, 2021

Cyprus reports four deaths, 238 new coronavirus cases, 133 patients hospitalised

The Ministry of Health announced on Friday the death of four more people to COVID19 in Cyprus, bringing the total number of deaths to 512 (331 men, 181 women).

Meanwhile, 133 patients are receiving treatment in hospitals, 44 of whom in a serious condition. It is noted that 81.96% of those hospitalised are not vaccinated.

In addition, there are 16 post-COVID patients who are still in ICUs intubated.

In the last 24 hours 59,969 tests have been carried out and 238 new coronavirus infections were diagnosed. The positivity rate stands at 0.40%.

Since the pandemic broke out there have been 116,326 cases in Cyprus.

The four people who passed away were all men, 85, 43, 73 and 85 years old. The median age of the deceased since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis is 76.4 years.

Out of the 44 patients who are in a critical condition, 16 are intubated. In the Famagusta General Hospital there are 24 patients, 22 are being treated in the Nicosia General Hospital, 39 in the Limassol General Hospital, 7 are in the Larnaka General Hospital, 17 are receiving treatment in the Pafos General Hospital and 2 more patients are in the Makario Hospital in Nicosia.

The 59,969 laboratory tests were done with the PCR method (6,350) and the antigen rapid test method (53,619) and 238 new infections were detected as follows: 8 from samples taken at airports, 58 from tests done after private initiative, 11 from samples taken at the Microbiology Labs of the General Hospitals, 121 from antigen rapid tests done in private laboratories and pharmacies

and 40 from antigen rapid testing done through the Ministry of Health programme. No cases were found after 5 tests done in closed structures.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

September 3, 2021

Third vaccine dose is voluntary, Health Minister says

Cyprus’ Minister of Health Michalis Hadjipantelas said on Friday that the third vaccine dose against COVID-19 is voluntary and will not affect the safepass or the greenpass of people who do not receive it.

Speaking at a press conference, during which the results of a survey about society`s stance on vaccinations were presented, Hadjipantelas said that in the morning he visited care homes, where elderly people received their third dose against COVID-19, adding that this was their own choice.

Meanwhile, replying to questions, head of the Scientific Advisory Committee Constantinos Tsioutis, said that 20 – 30% of people who presented with symptoms due to an infection with the coronavirus will continue to have symptoms for a long period of time.

Speaking on the same subject, the Minister said that on the basis of the survey that was presented today, the Ministry will examine ways to offer more treatment to post-COVID patients.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

September 3, 2021

AstraZeneca-Commission agree on time frame for remaining doses and end litigation

The European Commission and AstraZeneca have reached an agreement that will secure the delivery of the remaining COVID-19 vaccine doses to Member States under the terms of the Advance Purchase Agreement concluded on 27 August 2020 with AstraZeneca.

The agreement, reached on Friday, also puts an end to the pending litigation before the Brussels Court.

This settlement agreement provides for the firm commitment by AstraZeneca to deliver, in addition to around 100 million doses that were delivered before the second quarter of 2021, of an additional 135 million doses by the end of the year (60 million doses by the end of the third quarter and 75 million doses by the end of the fourth quarter). The remaining doses (65 million) will be delivered by the end of March 2022.

This will bring the total number of doses delivered to 300 million doses, as had been agreed under the initial contract.

Member States will be provided with regular delivery schedules and capped rebates will apply in the event of any delayed doses, according to the Commission’s press release.

“Today`s settlement agreement guarantees the delivery of the remaining 200 million COVID-19 vaccine doses by AstraZeneca to the EU”, said Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides in a statement.

Kyriakides noted that “while this week we reached the important milestone of 70% full vaccination of the EU`s adult population, there are significant differences in vaccination rates between our Member States, and the continued availability of vaccines, including AstraZeneca`s, remain crucial. ”

The Commissioner added that in the context of the EU’s support to global vaccine cooperation and solidarity, the EU’s aim is “to share at least 200 million doses of vaccines through COVAX with low and middle-income countries until the end of this year”, and stressed that “vaccine solidarity is and remains our trademark.”

Source: Cyprus News Agency

September 3, 2021

Cyprus House President to participate in the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament

House President Annita Demetriou is departing for Vienna on Sunday to take part in the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament which the Austrian Parliament is co-hosting with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations (UN) from the 7-8 September.

The 13th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament will take place on Monday, 6 September and will provide an opportunity to take stock of the year’s developments for women and girls and seek solution-oriented actions for a gender-responsive recovery from the pandemic.

The Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament will take place on 7 and 8 September, building on last year’s virtual segment and its overarching theme of parliamentary leadership for more effective multilateralism that delivers peace and sustainable development for the people and planet.

It will feature a general debate, panel discussions regarding current challenges and, of course, a valuable opportunity for direct interaction between parliamentary leaders.

During her stay in the Austrian capital, Demetriou will hold separate meetings with her counterparts and presidents of international organisations.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

September 3, 2021

August 2021 the warmest month in Cyprus since temperatures have been recorded

August this year was the warmest month in Cyprus since temperatures started being recorded.

According to an announcement by the press and information office, highest temperatures were recorded in plenty areas of Cyprus in August 2021. Temperatures over 40°C were also often recorded.

The average daily highest temperature in August 2021 was estimated in Athalassa at 39.8°C, making August the warmest month in Cyprus since temperatures have been recorded. July 2020 was the previous warmest month with the average daily highest temperature was estimated also in Athalassa 39.7°C.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

September 3, 2021

President praises Cysec outgoing President over capital market growth in Cyprus

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades received the annual report of the Cyprus Stock Exchange and Securities Commission (Cysec) praising its outgoing President Demetra Kalogirou for her contribution to the growth of the island’s capital market.

Kalogirou presented to President Anastasiades the last annual report under her Presidency as she completed two terms in office.

Presenting the report, Kalogirou said 2020 was a good year as Cysec issued licences to 80 new entities, issued fines amounting to €3 million over money laundering and other violations.

She also referred to Cysec’s new products addressed to small and medium sized enterprises and a new platform expected to be licensed shortly by Cysec.

“The growth of the Commission is continuing and I Hope the new (Commission’s) administration will continue this endeavour so the Commission will move forward and will remain a credible organisation as it is today,” Kalogirou said.

She also recalled that in 2011 “there was no market” as there were a few public companies listed in the Cyprus Stock Exchange which received a blow by the 1999 stock market crash and “the market development was just beginning.”

“Today we have 800 licensed entities,” she added, noting that the various supervised entities contribute to the economic growth and constitute a tool to finance the economy.

On his part, President Anastasiades addressing Kalogirou said a person assuming a public office is judged by results and expressed his “warmest congratulations and satisfaction on the complete success of your mission, taking into account what you assumed and what you are delivering”.

“You have significantly contributed in the development of the sectors of the capital market, investment funds so that today we have a credible Securities and Exchange Commission, whose work is acknowledged by international agencies, while the Commission has a large contribution to Cyprus’ economic growth” the President said.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

September 3, 2021

Eurostat: Few students in Cyprus work or seek jobs or internships while studying

The percentage of students in the education system (aged 15 – 24) in Cyprus that also joined the labour market, through working or seeking a job or an internship, was about half the EU average according to data released by Eurostat, the EU’s statistical service.

The pace of transition from school to the labour market varies across EU Member States, due to the influence of national systems of education and training, as well as other factors including national labour market characteristics and cultural determinants, Eurostat notes in a press release. In some countries, young people start working much earlier than in others, e.g. in the form of student jobs or paid traineeships.

In 2020, 18.4 % of people aged between 15-24 years in the EU were in education and at the same time employed, while 2.5% of the same age group were in education but unemployed, looking for a job while studying.

When compared with 2019, the number of people aged between 15-24 years who were in education and employed at the same time decreased by 3% (from 6.1 million in 2019 to 5.9 million in 2020). Meanwhile, the number of people aged between 15-24 years in education and unemployed at the same time increased by 16% (from 0.7 million in 2019 to 0.8 million in 2020).

According to estimates provided by Eurostat (which notes that data on Cyprus on employed and unemployed is of low reliability), the percentage of students in the country that were in the labour market in 2020 was about half that of the EU’s average, with about 90% remaining outside the labour force.

Among the EU Member States, the Netherlands had the highest share of pupils and students aged between 15-24 years that were employed while still in education in 2020 (57.8%), followed by Denmark (45.8%), Germany (38.7%) and Austria (35.2 %). In contrast, the lowest shares of employment among pupils and students aged 15-24 were found in Croatia and Hungary (both 3.3%), Italy (3.0%), Slovakia and Romania (both 2.5%).

The highest share of pupils and students aged 15-24 who were unemployed (meaning that they were looking for a job and ready to start to work while studying) was recorded in Sweden (12.1%), followed by Finland (9.5%), Denmark and the Netherlands (both 6.3%). On the other hand, in Slovenia, Italy, Romania, Czechia and Croatia, less than 1% of pupils and students in that age group were unemployed.

In 2020, in the EU, 9 in 10 people aged 15-19 years were still in education (89.5%). The older the age group, the smaller the proportion of young people in education: 49.5% of people aged 20-24 years, 14.4% of people aged 25-29 years and 4.8% of those aged 30-34 years were in education in 2020.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

September 3, 2021

Low unemployment will enable other government policies such as minimum wage, FinMin says

As the economy is recovering from the pandemic the government aims to maintain a low unemployment rate to safeguard the income of the citizens and proceed with promoting its other key policies such as setting a national minimum wage, Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides has said.

He was speaking to CNA on the occasion of Eurostat data, published on Wednesday, that showed that Cyprus in July 2021 marked the highest reduction in unemployment compared with the respective period of last year, while registering the lowest reading in unemployment since June 2009.

“The unemployment rate is a very important index as behind the numbers of unemployment are human beings,” Petrides said, adding that “for this reason the reduction of unemployment is very important and means that some of our fellow citizens found jobs in spite of the pandemic.”

Petrides also noted that “our aim while transitioning to economic recovery is to maintain unemployment at low levels so as to safeguard the income of our fellow citizens and to proceed with other policies such as setting a national minimum wage.”

Noting that some uncertainty remains due to Covid, the Finance Minister said the real impact on unemployment will be shown with the termination of public support measures which applies in all countries.”

“But we are convinced that given the current course of the economy, unemployment will remain at low levels”, he said without elaborating on the government’s target over the unemployment rate in 2021 due to the uncertainty associated with the Covid pandemic.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

September 3, 2021

Number of jobless persons in Cyprus declines to the lowest level in almost twelve years

The number of unemployed persons in Cyprus in August declined to the lowest level of nearly 12 years according to data released today by the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat).

According to Cystat, the unemployed persons, registered at the District Labour Offices on the last day of August 2021, amounted to 16,281 persons.

Based on the seasonally adjusted data that show the trend of unemployment, the number of registered unemployed for August 2021 decreased to 19,669 persons in comparison to 21,613 in the previous month.

The August reading in real terms is the lowest since June 2009 when jobless were 16,740 while in seasonally adjusted terms the number of unemployed persons in August 2021 was the lowest since September 2009.

The annual reduction is 17,368 persons or 51.6%, attributed mainly to the sector of accommodation and food service activities (a decrease of 6,122), trade (a decrease of 2,977), manufacturing (a decrease of 1,031), transportation and storage (a decrease of 936), financial and insurance activities (a decrease of 758) and as well as to the decrease of 752 persons recorded as newcomers in the labour market, Cystat added.

Source: Cyprus News Agency