Deferral of VAT payable – Measures announced by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus following the coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak.

Based on the decree issued on Monday ordering all licensed banks in Cyprus to suspend the collection of loan installments, including interest, until the end of the year, the Bank of Cyprus announced the procedures for their customers to follow in order to submit their applications.

The cabinet approved on Tuesday the expropriation of private property in the Sea Caves area in Peyia, Paphos to comply with the international obligations for the protection of Mediterranean seals, particularly the sea caves where they reproduce.

Cyprus posted a general government fiscal surplus of €212 million or 0.9% of GDP in the first two months of 2020, marking a reduction of 48% compared with the corresponding period of last year.

The government has decided to expedite the processing of pending passport applications filed via the controversial citizenship-by-investment programme, apparently keen to bring some much-needed foreign cash into the economy as it grapples with the slump related to the coronavirus situation.

Fifty-eight new Covid-19 cases were announced by the health ministry on Wednesday evening, bringing the total number of cases to 320 and dire warnings from the government.

The state health services (Okypy) will spend €20 million to buy equipment, services and diagnostic tests to combat the spread of the coronavirus, Okypy head Marios Panayides announced on Tuesday.

Plastic face guards are being churned out by people across the island operating 3D printers, offering a small reprieve to health workers on the frontline.

Cyprus has extended a ban on all commercial flights introduced on 21 March for another two weeks until mid-April to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The labour ministry has received applications from almost 70,000 people for various assistance programmes launched by the government to mitigate the economic fallout from the coronavirus, the minster said.