Updates from Cyprus
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades will travel to Brussels to take part in the European Council summit later in the week.
A written statement by the director of the President’s Press Office, Andreas Iosif, said developments in Ukraine will be the focus of the leaders’ discussions between 24-25 March.
The European Council will discuss Russian military aggression against Ukraine, security and defence, energy, economic issues, COVID-19 and external relations.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
There will be repercussions for Cyprus universities that maintain collaborations with universities in Ukraine and it will certainly take some time for things to go back to normal, according to the Rector of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), Professor Panayiotis Zaphiris, who is also the president of the Rector’s Council.
Asked if the war in Ukraine is affecting Cyprus universities, the rector told CNA that surely the war is affecting Cyprus universities as long as there are Ukrainian students in our universities or have origins from areas affected or family in the war-torn areas. These students, he added, need our support.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
More than 2,500 new building permits issued under the new, fast-track procedure, since it was implemented in October 2021, said Cyprus Minister of Interior Nicos Nouris, addressing the 29th General Assembly of the Cyprus Association of Civil Engineers on Saturday.
According to a press release by the Interior Ministry, Nouris said in his address that, starting June 2022, the new procedure will be available for large and complex developments, adding that the Ministry’s goal is for all permits of investments of a value of over 25 million euros to be issued within 12 months.
Nouris said that the Ministry aims to revitalise the countryside, especially in mountainous, disadvantaged and remote areas, where there is a strong phenomenon of population decline and living conditions present particular challenges.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
Sports should be a way of life and the concept of fair play should go beyond wars, said on Saturday President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades, as he signalled the start of the OPAP Limassol Marathon GSO.
The OPAP Limassol Marathon GSO is a flat course which follows the Mediterranean coastline. From the centre of the city, along the beach front, to the ruins of the ancient Royal city of Amathus, and back to the city.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
Sixteen individuals and four establishment owners or managers were fined by police in the last 24 hours after more than two thousand checks across Cyprus for violation of COVID-19 measures.
A Police spokesperson told CNA that a total of 2,083 checks were carried out. In Nicosia, five people were reported during 693 checks and another five in Limassol after 168 checks.
In Larnaca from 411 checks one individual was reported and four establishment owners were fined in Pafos after 56 checks as well as five citizens in Famagusta area following 369 checks.
No fines were handed out during checks in Morphou area or those conducted by the Traffic, Port and Marine police.
The establishments fined were the same ones that were reported last Sunday in Pafos. The owners are expected to appear before court.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
The Cyprus Health Ministry announced on Saturday one death due to COVID-19 and 3,347 new cases with the positivity rate reaching 4.51%.
The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is now 911 and the number of cases tested positive has reached 373, 658.
It said one woman aged 86 passed away on Saturday.
A total of 126 COVID-19 patients are treated in hospitals, 21 of them in a critical condition, of whom 7 are intubated.
A percentage of 57,15% of the patients who are in hospital have not been vaccinated.
Moreover, 23 patients who have ceased to be contagious continue to be treated in an Intensive Treatment Unit, due to COVID-19 and are intubated.
A total of 74.164 tests were carried out, 3,406 using the PCR method and 70,758 using rapid tests.
During contact tracing a total of 80 PCR te
Source: Cyprus News Agency