European Commissioner on Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides signed on Friday EU`s 5th vaccine contract with pharmaceutical companies BioNTech and Pfizer, as adopted by the College of Commissioners on November 11th.

The tender competition for ferry connection between Cyprus and Greece is expected to be announced at the beginning of next month, with the aim of launching the routes next summer, deputy minister of shipping, Vasilis Demetriades said on Friday.

Tackling non-performing loans (NPLs) remain at the heart of economic policy with a stable legal framework on foreclosures and an effective insolvency process, the finance ministry said.

The pandemic has some positive benefits, which include the locals learning the beauty and attraction of our mountain resorts.

MUFG Investor Services, in the context of the International Funds Summit, announced the expansion of its operations in the country.

Cyprus is the first EU member-state to benefit from low-cost financing of €479 million from the SURE facility to protect the labour market from the adverse impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the Finance Ministry said.

Cyprus health ministry announced it is continuing a free rapid testing program by expanding testing points to 16 while turning its focus on the capital Nicosia from Friday.

The health ministry said Thursday that a plan has been drawn up for the vaccination of the Cyprus public against coronavirus, noting that in cooperation with the government’s coronavirus expert task force, groups to get vaccinated first were determined on the basis of an algorithm.

A huge undertaking in Cyprus’ medical industry has been announced, with a local company saying they reached an agreement with Israel’s Hadassah Medical to set up a network of hospitals offering diagnostic, rehabilitative, and assisted living care on the island.

Dr Nikolas Dietis, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at the Medical School, University of Cyprus, said that most probably vaccinations against COVID-19 will begin in February 2021 and priority will be given to special groups of the population.