No new coronavirus cases reported on Saturday for the first time since Cyprus reported its first case on March 9, the health minister said.
“Since March 9, when the first two cases in Cyprus were identified, today is the first time there is no new case,” said Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou after the figures were announced.
“The result is not at all due to luck. Everyone’s effort is bearing fruit. We will continue with the same decisiveness.”
The total remains at 927, the health ministry said in a statement.
A total of 2,414 tests were processed, 349 from hairdressers and aestheticians, 170 from state hospital laboratories, 1,007 from schools, 463 from construction and food and beverage workers, 30 from contact tracing, 74 from vulnerable groups, 161 conducted on private initiative, and 160 from repatriated individuals,
Earlier, the ministry reported five patients were being treated at Famagusta General, the reference hospital.
One of the patients is in the advanced care unit for closer monitoring.
Doctors said all the patients were in a generally good condition.
Two more patients are intubated at Nicosia General’s intensive care unit. There are another two in the same group, not on ventilators.
Meanwhile, beaches reopened on Saturday, with most seaside communities reporting it went off without a hitch since President Nicos Anastasiades announced the initial lockdown two months ago.
Public parks and beaches were all shutdowns, along with airports, restaurants, salons, and other businesses.
Cyprus began easing out of lockdown on May 4, when a series of phases were introduced to restart economic activities and allow the public to move more freely.
On Thursday, after two months of lockdown, curfews and SMS permits to go outside for any reason were scrapped.
All movement restrictions have been lifted, and hairdressers, beauticians and the outside spaces of restaurants and pubs have reopened. Groups of more than ten are still banned.
Airports are due to open on June 9. Mandatory quarantine for repatriated Cypriots and permanent residents is also scrapped from Monday.
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