COVID19: Businesses to gradually reopen under tight controls

Cyprus’ road map to reopening businesses and lifting the restrictive measures is to be implemented based on the epidemiological data and expert advice said, President Nicos Anastasiades.

This message was conveyed by government spokesperson Kyriacos Koushos, following meetings the President had with unions and employers and later with partners of the construction industry on the resumption of economic activity.

According to the government spokesman, the President stressed that the strategy for the gradual lifting of restrictive measures and the restart of the economy will depend entirely on epidemiological data, the recommendations of the scientific team, systematic monitoring through testing and maintaining security measures.

Koushos said the road map will be presented before the cabinet on 29 April for approval.

He said that businesses reopening will be monitored with employees undergoing frequent testing. Businesses are to be reassessed regularly on whether they are able to maintain the health measures to be imposed.

He noted that both the representatives of the employers’ and trade unions and partners of the construction industry, expressed their satisfaction with the measures taken by the government so far.

They submitted their positions on planning for the gradual lifting of restrictions and the reopening of business sectors.

It is understood the government is preparing for a gradual reopening of the economy from early May.

Cyprus’ economy is on lockdown since mid-March with all non-essential businesses closing and people told to stay home are allowed one essential journey daily while a curfew is also observed.

During the last few days, calls from the Federation of Employers and Industrialists (OEB) for a relaxation of restrictions to allow the reopening of businesses have been getting louder.

On Tuesday, director-general of OEB, Michalis Antoniou told CyBC radio that reopening the economy is a “one-way street”.