Cypriots were able to take full advantage of the beaches of the Mediterranean island on Saturday, although still at a distance from each other, after further relaxation of the travel restriction measures imposed in March to fight the new coronavirus.
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This reopening of the beaches coincided with the first day without new infection recorded on the island since the announcement of the first case of contamination on March 9. " People are good, the water is good, the weather is good, everything is fine, " Georgios, a young sports coach, told AFP. " We are here, we are having a good time (...) we are taking our precautions. "
Cypriots had recently been allowed to go to the beach to swim. They can now also sunbathe on the sand, respecting physical distance measures. The Ministry of Health has established rules to respect regarding the placement of deckchairs and parasols and only members of the same family can practice water sports together. " We placed the tables two meters apart " from each other, says Panayiotis Neokleous, owner of the restaurant Ammos Beach Club, south of the tourist town of Larnaca (south). “ All the employees have been tested, they are all negative. Now we all wear protective masks, gloves and we disinfect our hands, ”he says.
Cyprus lifted containment measures on Thursday and authorized the reopening of terrace restaurants and hairdressers. The hotels will reopen on June 1. However, Neokleous fears that the summer season will be " not very good because the tourists will not come ". " Many restaurants and hotels will fail and will have to close, " he said.
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For Vanessa, a personal trainer accustomed to the restaurant, Saturday remained a festive day despite the windy weather and rough waters after the heat wave that has affected the region in recent days. " It's my favorite place. I'm glad it's all over and I hope it will work out. "
To date, 927 cases and 17 deaths have been recorded by the Cypriot authorities, which since the beginning of May have recorded only a few cases on average per day. They announced Friday the partial resumption of commercial flights from about twenty countries from June 9. But Great Britain and Russia, which represent a significant part of the tourist market, are not on the list, the epidemic not being considered there sufficiently controlled.