The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) marked Cyprus in its red category along with most other EU countries, indicating that daily new coronavirus cases amount to 150 (or more) per 100,000 people.

Cyprus will launch its biggest ever digital promotion campaign to win back lost tourists now that people all over the world spend more time online because of the coronavirus lockdowns.

Cyprus’ Deputy Ministry for Tourism will launch the biggest digital campaign to day in a bid to promote tourism which in 2020 took a heavy hit from the coronavirus pandemic, Deputy Minister Savvas Perdios has said.

The mayor of Limassol Nicos Nicolaides announced on Wednesday that, by the end of 2021, he will announce tenders for the construction of 150 apartments in the neighbourhood of Ayios Nikolaos, as part of the agreement on affordable housing signed between the Limassol municipality and the Cyprus land development corporation (KOAG).

Construction activity declined in October with approved building permits dropping 15.5% to 583 from 690 in the previous month of 2020, although Nicosia and Famagusta districts made gains.

The Cabinet decided on Wednesday to start social dialogue for the implementation of the national minimum wage in Cyprus when full employment is reached, namely when unemployment is around 5%.

Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides on Wednesday unveiled the government’s plans to absorb €968 million in EU structural funds in the period of 2021-2027 with emphasis on the green economy, tackling social disparities and job creation.

The cabinet on Wednesday rubberstamped rent relief measures for businesses stricken by the Covid crisis, which include a 70% temporary discount for two months if the landlords are private citizens and full payment suspension if the property belongs to the state.

Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides said Cyprus wants to achieve an absorption of 100% of the maximum of €968 million it could receive from the European structural and investment funds, but this requires that Cyprus invests in projects amounting to €1.8 billion.

COVID-19 came as a shock to everyone and resulted in 2020 being a very tough year for many of us at both a personal and professional level. With a lock-down beginning in 2021 it has meant many people have felt unable to plan for the next year making some feel anxious, scared and insecure but these are all-natural feelings given the current circumstances.