Paphos Life

There was fresh tension at Larnaca airport on Tuesday after the authorities had initially refused entry to six students from the Netherlands who did not have a medical certificate. 

Relatives of the six students who arrived in the morning with five other passengers on a flight from the NetherlanDs, reacted after they were told they would not be allowed entry into the country without the paper. 

The six had doctors’ notes certifying they did not have any symptoms of the coronavirus but no certificate saying they were negative. 

The students were allowed off the plane and into Larnaca airport’s medical centre for tests. 

After the tests, the students will be taken to a quarantine in Platres. 

The five other passengers will return to the Netherlands

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Police checked more than 1,000 establishments islandwide and fined seven that were operating despite a decree issued by the health minister mandating the closure of certain businesses temporarily.  

In the last 24 hours, police inspected more than 1,000 businesses and fined one bar, two restaurants and one shop in Paphos, a toy store chain in Nicosia and Limassol and a hair and nail salon in Larnaca.  

The maximum penalty is a fine of up to €800 and a prison sentence of up to six months or both. 

As part of the country’s measures against Covid-19, the health minister banned gatherings of more than 75 people in closed space last Wednesday, while on Sunday he issued a decree closing all private businesses allowing only pharmacies and supermarkets and small shops to remain open.  

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Coronavirus: A good news round-up



How about some good news?

-China has closed down its last coronavirus hospital. Not enough new cases to support them.

– Researchers of the Erasmus Medical Centre claim to have found an antibody against coronavirus.

– A 103-year-old Chinese grandmother has made a full recovery from COVID-19 after being treated for 6 days in Wuhan, China.

– Apple reopens all 42 china stores.

– Good news from South Korea, where the number of new cases is declining.

– Italy may have been hit hard, experts say, because they have the oldest population in Europe.

– Scientists in Israel are working on the development of a coronavirus vaccine.

– A network of Canadian scientists are making progress in Covid-19 research.

So it’s not all bad news. Let’s care for each other and stay focused on the safety of those most vulnerable.

https://in-cyprus.com/coronavirus-a-good-news-round-up/

The Minister of Health issued a decree on Tuesday capping retail and wholesale prices for antiseptics, face masks and thermometers.The announcement came following complaints from the public on price gouging earlier today.

It was also announced that as of tomorrow March 18 at 6 am and until midnight on April 30:...

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Cyprus is prohibiting passenger flights from a large number of countries, including the UK and Greece ??from 3 am on March 21 for 14 days as part of measures to contain the spread of coronavirus.However, it slightly easing entry restrictions to allow some categories of stranded Cypriots to return home....

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Although we are a goodly distance from the airport, we are under the flight path of most incoming planes. They don't really bother us because they are still at altitude but, believe me, it has been notably peaceful over the past few days. Selfishly, I would like it to stay like this but, of course, this is a utopian dream!

Regarding Vaccines, it is estimated that Covid19 will reappear next winter, before a Vaccine is tested and released. It normally takes 18 months but even with expedited 12 months, it wouldn’t be available and the worry is about causing mutations.

Just so people know if they can't get out to get supplies they can call the municipality and they will assist you : https://in-cyprus.com/coronavirus-papho ... o-elderly/

Coronavirus: Government sends text to entire population to limit movements



The Republic of Cyprus sent a text message on Thursday to the mobile phones of all citizens in the country in relation to Covid-19 advising them to avoid unnecessary movements.

The message read:

“These moments are critical. Isolation delays the spread of the virus. Only absolutely necessary movements. Protect the vulnerable groups of the population – Ministry of Interior.”


* I never received this text, neither did my wife.


........................ Yet!

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR UK TOURISTS IN CYPRUS

The Cyprus government has ordered all hotels in the Republic to close on 21 March. There are still seats available on flights leaving Cyprus today (20 Mar) and tomorrow (21 Mar). This includes more seats that have been made available on additional Easyjet flights, now available to ALL. Details available here: https://www.easyjet.com/en/policy/coron ... ue-flights

If you have not yet booked a flight to leave Cyprus, you are strongly advised to do so now, unless you are content to remain here under your own arrangements.

Only those requiring urgent consular assistance should contact us on +357 22 861100

.

Coronavirus: Another Paphos private hospital confirms positive case

Evangelismos private hospital in Paphos announced on Friday a confirmed Covid-19 case in its premises, the second case in a Paphos private hospital in two days.

The hospital’s director Dr Nestoras Michael said that all necessary measures have been taken since they received the relevant reply from the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING), limiting its operations to the absolute necessary, while swabs have already been taken from all the patient’s recent contacts and sent to CING for testing. Test results are expected tomorrow.

Meanwhile, all areas at the private hospital have been disinfected, including surgery rooms, the ground floor and the lab.

It was added that the Obstetrics department would remain in operation and will be isolated from the rest of the hospital, albeit the confirmed case did not come into contact with the department, and outpatient appointments are suspended until Monday.

The A&E department remains open but new admissions are suspended except in life-threatening situations.

https://in-cyprus.com/coronavirus-anoth ... tive-case/

Dominic wrote: ↑Fri Mar 20, 2020 11:58 am IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR UK TOURISTS IN CYPRUS

The Cyprus government has ordered all hotels in the Republic to close on 21 March. There are still seats available on flights leaving Cyprus today (20 Mar) and tomorrow (21 Mar). This includes more seats that have been made available on additional Easyjet flights, now available to ALL. Details available here: https://www.easyjet.com/en/policy/coron ... ue-flights

If you have not yet booked a flight to leave Cyprus, you are strongly advised to do so now, unless you are content to remain here under your own arrangements.

Only those requiring urgent consular assistance should contact us on +357 22 861100.

hyperlink didn't post properly Dominic! '404 message'

1412 call center begins operation today for information on Coronavirus disease

The Ministry of Health announces that, in addition to 1450 call center, as of today, 20 March, noon, 1412 call center begins its operation. 1412 call center will operate from 8 am to 8 pm providing general information to the public on Coronavirus.

General information on Coronavirus is also available on the Press and Information website www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus.

The Ministry wishes to remind the public that 1420 call center remains in operation for reporting symptoms only.

(will sort out the hyperlink)

Coronavirus: Paphos hospital remains closed; city at frontline of outbreak

All outpatient clinics and the A&E at Paphos General Hospital will remain closed on Sunday amid efforts to contain an upsurge in coronavirus cases.

The Ministry of Health said that special arrangements would be made for haematological, oncological, dialysis and thalassemia cases during the closure.

All surgeries have also been suspended. Patients affected by the changes are asked to contact the private sector for their requirements, namely the Evangelismos and Kyanos Stavros (Blue Cross) medical centres which both have an agreement with the Ministry of Health.

One of yesterday’s confirmed case at Paphos hospital is a nurse who worked in the ward where a group of Britons visited their 65 year old relative who became the first positive case at the Paphos Hospital.

Twenty of the 84 confirmed cases in the Republic of Cyprus are from Paphos hospital in addition to four patients one of whom was a 70 year old Briton who became yesterday the first death from Covid-19 recorded in Cyprus.

The 70 year old was initially being treated at the Paphos hospital with low life expectancy as he suffered from liver cirrhosis, acute liver failure, acute renal failure and chronic heart problems.

During his treatment at the Paphos hospital and while contacts of a patient that had been found positive to Covid-19 were being traced, the 70 year old was found positive to the virus which aggravated his clinical condition. He was then transferred to the Famagusta hospital for further treatment where he remained until his passing on Saturday.

Meanwhile, another two doctors from private hospitals in Paphos have tested positive, and a Paphos couple who had contracted the virus was cured and later discharged from the Famagusta hospital where they had been transferred.

The Epidemiological monitoring unit of the Ministry of Health has already started tracing the contacts of the nurse at Paphos hospital found positive yesterday to Covid-19 and will take swabs for testing.

Results are also expected for tests conducted on patients and medical staff at the Paphos hospital, with the head of the Nephrological department stating that swabs have been taken from 60 patients at the dialysis unit and 25 more will be taken soon.

He added that following a positive case all the nursing staff at the dialysis unit was replaced, while one of the three doctors from the dialysis unit who have been in isolation will return to his duties on Wednesday.

The Evangelismos private hospital where a positive case was found has reportedly concluded taking swabs from the staff and patients and is now expecting the results.

https://in-cyprus.com/coronavirus-papho ... -outbreak/

Coronavirus: Paphos Hospital closed for another 48 hours after new confirmed cases

The State Health Services Organisation (Okypy) decided late on Sunday to extend the closure of the Paphos Hospital for another 48 hours as four of the 11 new positive Covid-19 cases announced yesterday are linked to the hospital, the CNA reports.

The Ministry of Health said that special arrangements would be made for haematological, oncological, dialysis and thalassemia cases during the closure.

All surgeries have also been suspended. Patients affected by the changes are asked to contact the private sector for their requirements, namely the Evangelismos and Kyanos Stavros (Blue Cross) medical centres which both have an agreement with the Ministry of Health.

Head of the Nephrological Department Dr Lakis Yioukas, who is in self-isolation after a nurse in the Dialysis Unit came out positive, told CNA that 80 swabs have been taken from patients at the dialysis unit and 20 more will be taken on Monday.

The Epidemiological monitoring unit of the Ministry of Health has already started tracing the contacts of the new confirmed cases of Covid-19 at Paphos hospital and will take swabs for testing.

680 people are said to be currently working at Paphos hospital and testing is ongoing.

Less than 30 patients remain in the hospital, which has suspended new admissions.

The Ministry of Health announced on Friday new rules for the operation of Cyprus hospitals:

Limassol -Paphos General Hospitals

(a) Out-patient departments suspend operations, both for scheduled and emergency cases. All operations are suspended. Patients must apply to the private sector (Evangelismos and Blue Cross Hospitals in Paphos district and Mediterranean in Limassol district) after an agreement between them and the ministry

(b) Hematological and oncology cases, dialysis and thalassaemia are excluded. Special arrangements will be made so as to safeguard the health of patients and health care professionals. Patients should contact the relevant clinics.

(c) A&E suspend operations for 72 hours and all cases will be handled by the private sector hospitals above except in exceptional cases where the services cannot be provided by the private sector.

(d) Imaging and clinical labs will continue to operate, complying with the protocol for protection against coronavirus

Nicosia General Hospital

(a) Suspension of cold cases and handling of emergencies (where the private sector cannot handle them)

(b) A&E to handle only emergencies

(c) suspension of the heart surgery unit

Larnaca General Hospital

(a) Outpatient wards to suspend operation. All scheduled surgeries also to be suspended.

(b) A&E to handle only emergencies

Famagusta General Hospital

Famagusta Hospital continues to operate as the referral hospital for confirmed coronavirus cases.

The A&E and dialysis unit are also in operation.

General rules for hospitals

(a) Prohibition of all visits to patients remains in force
(b) The special pharmacy booths at the hospitals will operate only for those with chronic conditions

https://in-cyprus.com/coronavirus-papho ... med-cases/

Coronavirus: Paphos hospital remains closed on Tuesday

Paphos hospital will remain closed on Tuesday according to an announcement by the Minstry of Health, but the A&E will remain in operation for the next 48 hours under supervision by security staff and will only take on urgent cases that cannot be handled by the private sector, the CNA reports.

The extension of the closure comes after three people connected to the Paphos hospital were confirmed to be among the 21 new Covid-19 cases announced yesterday.

An insider told CNA that one of the new cases concerns a doctor from the Pneumonological department, one nurse from the ICU and one cleaner.

The head of the Paphos Hospital who was in self-isolation came out negative to Coronavirus and has been temporarily replaced until the expiry of his isolation time.

36 of the 116 positive cases in Cyprus came from Paphos, the majority of which from Paphos hospital.

According to CNA information, 22 cases were health professionals at Paphos hospital, 4 were patients there one of whom became the first Covid-19 death in Cyprus after he was transferred to the Famagusta referral hospital, 2 were cleaners and 4 were relatives of hospital staff.

4 of the 36 Paphos cases were outside Paphos hospital; two were doctors from private hospitals Iasis and Evangelismos and another two were a taxi driver and his wife who have since been cured at Famagusta hospital and sent home.


https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/coronav ... n-tuesday/

Coronavirus: Big batch of tests carried out at Paphos hospital came out negative

Some good news arrived on Tuesday at Paphos hospital who had a large delivery of test results from samples taken days ago from its staff that all came out negative.

The batch delivered today was part of hundreds of samples taken from Paphos hospital and sent for analysis in recent days.

Meanwhile, Paphos hospital — which is still providing only rudimentary services — discharged today many patients and only a small number remains in the hospital; about 20 patients who are serious cases. The remaining patients will be isolated so that the rest of the wards can be disinfected.

https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/coronav ... -negative/

Coronavirus: Five public health centres in operation

Five public health centres or clinics are in full operation since Monday to examine individuals who exhibit flu symptoms but are unsure if they have contracted coronavirus.

Health Ministry press officer, Margarita Kyriakou told CNA that from Monday, people have been visiting the clinics which opened last week.

For the time being, she said, each district has a clinic, however if the needs increase, then a second clinic will operate in each district.

In Nicosia and Larnaca, the Clinics are open from 08:00-20:00, while in Limassol and Paphos from 08:00-14:00.

The Ministry aims to have more of these clinics in each district, she said.

Kyriakou said that the clinics will operate by appointment if one has flu symptoms but it is unclear whether it is coronavirus or not.

She said that a person with flu symptoms who has not travelled or came into contact with a confirmed case, should telephone his/her General Practitioner who will determine whether the patient should be referred to a Clinic

Describing the procedure, she said the GP will speak to the patient on the phone and if necessary, examine the patient at his/her office and if the GP believes the case requires further investigation for coronavirus or Α (Η1Ν1) the GP will contact 1420 and make an appointment for the patient.

The patient will then go to the Clinic, examined on site and if necessary, be tested for the coronavirus. The test will be sent to the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics until more laboratories perform the test.

The Clinics are staffed by doctors of the Pancyprian Doctors’ Association and nurses.

https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/coronav ... operation/

Coronavirus: Peyia Municipality sets up team to monitor compliance with decrees, help vulnerable


Peyia Municipality has set up a team to monitor compliance with decrees to contain the spread of coronavirus, Mayor Marinos Lambrou told the Cyprus News Agency in Thursday.

The team is made up of traffic wardens and two other municipality officials. They will check there are no gatherings in squares, other public areas and beaches, and will also be doing the rounds at the supermarkets and the few businesses that offer delivery.

The municipality has also set up a special unit to help residents who cannot go to the supermarkets for pharmacies. There have been three or four such cases he said.

The municipality has also started distributing the documents required to be filled to residents.

The municipality was working closely with police, Lambrou said and appealed to all residents to stay home as to break the chain of transmission.

https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/coronav ... ulnerable/

Coronavirus: A doctor from Paphos Hospital rushed to ICU at Limassol Hospital

A doctor from the Pneumonology Clinic of Paphos Hospital was rushed to Limassol Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Thursday, the CNA reports.

The doctor’s health worsened today while he was in isolation, therefore his admission to the Limassol Hospital ICU was deemed necessary.

According to an insider, the doctor was one of the confirmed Coronavirus cases associated with the Paphos Hospital.

https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/coronav ... -hospital/