The government on Monday unveiled a series of upcoming schemes aimed at supporting businesses and helping them transition to the circular economy, with planned government disbursements of some €90 million for 2021.

Over 43,000 beneficiaries of the national health scheme (Gesy) have received inpatient care since its launch, the health insurance organisation (HIO) told the health minister in a conference call on Monday.

A major weapon in the government’s battle against a renewed flare-up of the virus as lockdown measures are steadily lifted are rapid tests, with employees who are set to return to work next week subject to a €300 fine if they haven’t gotten checked for the virus.

The House plenum on Friday ratified the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) statute which is crucial for the geopolitical role of Cyprus in the region. As well as for the exploitation of the Eastern Mediterranean’s exploitation of natural gas resources.

Vassilis Demetriades, Cyprus Shipping Deputy Minister said he will begin contacts to reassess the situation after a tender for sea passenger line, linking Cyprus and Greece, aided by state subsidies, failed to attract binding offers.

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Bank of Cyprus Public Company Limited`s (BoC) Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at `B-' and Viability Rating (VR) at `b-' with a negative outlook.

Cyprus will receive 69,403 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in February, according to information provided by the company, the Ministry of Health said Friday.

The Republic of Cyprus launched on Monday a gradual unlock of a three-week lockdown, citing signs of improvement with fewer hospitalizations and a major ramp up in the state’s rapid testing strategy.

Dr. Petros Karayiannis, member of the Scientific Committee on the pandemic and Professor of Microbiology/Molecular Virology at the University of Nicosia Medical School has told CNA that the epidemiological picture of Cyprus has improved and that he expects a greater drop in Covid-19 cases from next week onward, pointing out at the same time the need to proceed with caution.

Cyprus is among the few EU member states that is deescalating Covid measures while most are extending strict restrictions amid deep concerns over the aggressive spread of the virus’ new variants, the ministry of health said on Saturday.