A total of 2,640 tests were processed on Wednesday, 539 from hairdressers and beauticians and restaurant workers, 1,069 from schools, 106 from food and construction workers, 91 through contact tracing, 102 from vulnerable groups, 316 from state hospital laboratories, 209 from repatriated individuals, and 208 on private initiative.

The ministry reported also five people were being treated for the virus at Famagusta General, the reference hospital.

One of the patients is in the high dependency unit for further monitoring, doctors said.

Another patient was discharged, following a negative retest for the virus.

Three patients are intubated at the Nicosia General intensive care unit, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, in the north ‘health minister’ Ali Pilli said the crossing points would not open on June 8 if the state-controlled areas continue to have new cases.

Speaking on BRTK, he said: “If the situation on the Greek Cypriot side is as it is today, we are against reopening the checkpoints. If the Greek Cypriot side’s cases fall to zero, and 14 days pass, then we will open them.”

Despite Pilli’s statements, the bicommunal committee on health will meet on Monday 1 to discuss the epidemiological situation on both sides and the opening of crossing points.

Last week President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci decided to open checkpoints on June 8 for certain groups of people.

Those groups would be Turkish Cypriots working or studying in the state-controlled areas, or who are cancer patients. The leaders also decided the checkpoints would be open for the enclaved and Maronites living in the north.

Source: Cyprus Mail