Cyprus announced that more children will return to school while tentatively opening gyms
TOPSHOT - People exercise at Inspire South Bay Fitness behind plastic sheets in their workout pods while observing social distancing on June 15, 2020 in Redondo Beach, California, as the gym reopens today under California's coronavirus Phase 3 reopening guidelines. (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Nicosia, Cyprus, Feb 25 (AFP/APP): Cyprus on Thursday announced that more children will return to school while tentatively opening gyms as it gradually exits a national lockdown to contain Covid-19 infections.
Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou said the government was determined to allow a return to normal life “slowly, carefully and in a controlled manner”. The number of new Covid-19 infections has been stabilising and hospital admissions are down, he said. The Mediterranean island went into lockdown on January 10 for the second time since last March after daily cases hit a record 907 on December 29. The government is relying on a process of “test, trace and vaccinate” to keep the pandemic in check, the minister said. He said 70 percent of people aged over 80 have been vaccinated, while Cyprus expects delivery of 160,000 vaccines next month.
Between March 1-8, all private and state high schools are to reopen, Iannou said. Gyms and other indoor sports facilities such as swimming pools can also operate, although with limited numbers.
