Just seen on "In Cyprus"local news page

[Kili01]

I have just seen that last night in Limassol, police found a taverna with live music, which was packed with people drinking and dancing. Probably without any masks being worn. There is an accompanying photo from social media which only shows the back view of the dancers, with a table full of their drinks in the foreground. Police are now investigating who was there,
This is deliberate disobedience in the city which has the highest number of Covid cases, some of which are clogging up the hospitals. Selfish,irresponsible and stupid people.

Why can't Limassol be locked down before it ruins the island's chances of economic recovery and wrecks another summer tourist season by the island being in the red zone?

Dee

[WHL]

I have just seen that last night in Limassol, police found a taverna with live music, which was packed with people drinking and dancing. Probably without any masks being worn. There is an accompanying photo from social media which only shows the back view of the dancers, with a table full of their drinks in the foreground. Police are now investigating who was there,
This is deliberate disobedience in the city which has the highest number of Covid cases, some of which are clogging up the hospitals. Selfish,irresponsible and stupid people.

Why can't Limassol be locked down before it ruins the island's chances of economic recovery and wrecks another summer tourist season by the island being in the red zone?

Dee

You keep bringing this up, please tell us what you would do re locking down, Limassol? what are the specific measures you want to see in Limessol?

[Kili01]

WHL; the same provisions as have applied before when the island was in lockdown. But just Limassol, not the whole island, The idea being to stop people from leaving their own homes for about 2-3weeks, except for essentials like visiting supermarket, pharmacy, doctor and bank., thus to limit the spread of the virus and the number of cases which at present is around 400 for the island each day. If you read the figures given each evening on In Cyprus, you can see that the other towns, including Nicosia seem to consistently have far less cases than limassol. Cyprus is now in the 'Red Zone' like much of Europe.
We need to reduce the number of cases on island in order to improve our chances of having tourists coming here for holidays which would be a welcome boost for the hotels, restaurants, the hospitality industries. Not to forget all the jobs for the people who are dependent on it for their employment.

Dee

[galexinda]

It is not possible to 'just lockdown Limassol' due to the number of people who travel from different areas to work there.
Closing restaurants, tavernas etc only in Limassol will not work because people will just drive further.
Locking down the island will only result in an increase in numbers when the island opens up again.

Last years' lockdown measures worked well, mostly because you could hardly go anywhere without your paperwork/SMS being checked and if stopped questioned as to whether your outing was really necessary and did it warrant the time taken to do it. That would be my first step - more checks on people and businesses, day, evening and night.

Have always been quite keen on sending the offenders to quarantine hotels with basic requirements (no internet access, food as provided by the premises,local TV only) and person has to pay for their board before being let out and businesses closed down for a minimum of one month.

[Kili01]

You should go far! Your proposed solution to limiting the excesses currently occurring in Limassol might well work, if properly enforced by the police. Sending those who consistently
Offend to the quarantine hotel for which they would have to pay. could be the strongest incentive not to reoffend.Specially with no internet and only the hotels food.

Dee

[Lofos-Jan]

I think it’s fairly obvious that regardless of the outrage by many, people who are not sticking by the government regulations - are not going to anytime soon. They are well aware of the penalties which are there to be meted out to them. I believe it’s a minority and the entire Limassol district should not be penalised - there are many businesses and individuals in Limassol who are doing everything they should.

We just have to ride this out - getting upset by such incidences is not going to help your state of mind or prevent it from happening.

Stay safe and stay calm!

Jeanne

[galexinda]

I can also remember when we could only stay within the limits of Paphos District - and at one stage, perhaps for 2-3 weeks only the general public was allowed to only shop at the nearest supermarket, pharmacy etc when there were clusters of positive cases in certain areas eg Geroskipou.

Agree with Lofos-Jan in that there will always be those who choose not to adhere to the regulations, so much easier to continue to protect myself as best I can and not waste time pondering the misdeeds of others. Plenty of other (nicer) things for my brain cells to peruse.

[Kili01]

The people who choose to flout the laws designed to help limit peoples exposure to the virus which is the best way to reduce the number of cases of covid, deserve to be caught by the police and punished.
Otherwise how is this country going to 'achieve 'Green' status? We need this to be able to go back nearer to normal in order to encourage tourists to book their holidays. This would benefit the airlines, the hotels,restaurents, tavernas and bars.
Cyprus badly needs more funds after a very lean time last year.

Dee
,