LAST UPDATE: 13:45
Following the cabinet meeting, the Minister of Health of Cyprus, Konstantinos Ioannou, announced the easing of precautionary measures against the coronavirus for the Christmas and New Year holidays.
According to the Minister of Health, the churches will remain open for the faithful for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy of the 25th of December and the 6th of January. A maximum number of 75 people will be allowed inside the churches who must observe the social distancing measures, that is one person per 3 sq.m.
If necessary, more services are likely to be performed on the same days to avoid overcrowding.
The epidemiological data of Cyprus are rather worrying and, therefore, an easing of the measures is not recommended. However, there are some minor exceptions about transport, movement and church services, said the Minister of Health.
The minister said that the number of cases remains increased and the number of patients in hospitals is between 110-130 every day. In addition, the number of patients who are intubated is high. There is also great concern about the number of deaths.
It is recalled that the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Anastasiadis, had a meeting yesterday with Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus. The Head of the Church of Cyprus raised the issue of reopening the churches for believers in view of Christmas, New Year and Epiphany, in full compliance with the health protocols.
