Face covering rules are being restored in one of the Mediterranean's most popular holiday destinations following a spike in Covid cases. Cyprus has announced rules will be re-introduced from tomorrow (July 8) in a bid to crackdown on rising infections.
The changes have been confirmed little more than a month after the rules were first relaxed following 10,879 new cases of Covid-19 for the week ending July 1. There are calls to bring back restrictions in other tourist destinations as fears grow over a new Covid wave.
The island's health minister Michalis Hadjipantelas confirmed face coverings will become compulsory again for all indoor venues and on public transport for those aged 12 and over from July 8. Anyone not complying faces a fine in excess of £250.
Cyprus ditched face covering rules on June 1 along with all Covid entry restrictions for tourists after the number of infections eased. However, cases have recently soared leading to an increase in hospitalisations, according to local reports.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has updated its website following the changes. It reads: “As of July 8, 2022, the use of a face mask is compulsory in all indoor venues and on all public transport for everyone aged 12 and above. Failure to comply with restrictions may result in a 300 euros fine.”
Health authorities in other popular holiday destinations will be closely following the impact of the Cyprus move. But, it may be a sign of what is to come as the highly infectious Omicron sub variants BA4 and BA5 sweep across Europe.
UK Health Security (UKHSA) officials say that the variants potentially have a growth advantage over the currently dominant BA2 Omicron strain. Health experts have warned that this could impact holidays, although for the most part countries have stayed firm in a recent relaxing of restrictions.
Lib Dem MP Layla Moran believes more countries might reintroduce restrictions on UK arrivals. The chair of Westminster’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus told the Mirror: “Other countries could reintroduce restrictions on arrivals from Britain and transport companies, already in crisis from the Government’s mishandling of Brexit and industrial action, are likely to see an increase in staff shortages with more people off sick with the virus and Long Covid.”
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
