Cyprus banks tightened lending criteria in the third quarter of 2020 while there was increased demand for loans from businesses and households during the pandemic, according to the bank lending survey.

Despite indications that the rampant spread of the virus has been contained, Cyprus remains in the red zone, Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou said Thursday.

Cyprus is looking into ways of expanding a relief scheme subsidising borrowers with toxic mortgages to cover borrowers who failed to make the first cut, as they were found unviable.

“Based on current data, CERA is looking forward to the introduction of healthy competition in the electricity market of Cyprus at the beginning of 2022,” announces Dr. Andreas Poullikkas, chairman of the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA).

The health ministry on Wednesday announced that the minimum number of people who need to be physically present in workplaces has been raised to five with 25 maximum, depending on the size of the business.

An EU court ruled Wednesday there is no possibility of consumers confusing Cyprus’ traditional cheese Halloumi with its Bulgarian imitator BBQLOUMI in a legal fight to protect the brand.

So far, an amount of €2.4 million has been deposited in the accounts of producers who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and have requested assistance by the ministry of agriculture.

Cyprus hopes to tap a new niche market for tourists with luxury camping, or glamping, for which legislation is being drafted, deputy tourism minister Savvas Perdios said on Tuesday after briefing the House trade and tourism committee.

Following Brexit, the Road Transport Department, of the Ministry of Transport Communication and Works, announced the Regulations which now apply for the registration of vehicles, which originate from the UK.

Cyprus boosted its vaccination plan by securing an additional 565,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine through the European Union after Brussels increased its total order, the Health Ministry said Tuesday.