The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious illness caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which first emerged in late 2019 in the city of Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization declared the disease a public health emergency of international concern, initially as a public health emergency on January 30, 2020, and later as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The disease can be transmitted from person to person, mainly through the air when people inhale infectious particles and droplets, as well as through surfaces when people touch surfaces contaminated with the virus. Preventive measures to prevent the spread include handwashing, disinfecting surfaces, ventilating indoor spaces, social distancing, wearing face masks, and isolating individuals who are exposed or show symptoms.
After the first case was reported on March 9, 2020, the Republic of Cyprus responded quickly and strictly by implementing a wide range of movement restrictions to contain the spread of the virus. Throughout 2020, strict measures and policies were enforced, such as a mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers arriving in Cyprus, the closure of schools, hotels, and local businesses, the mandatory use of masks in both indoor and outdoor spaces, and restrictions on movement during specific hours. Simultaneously, health authorities scaled up diagnostic testing for the general population and increased efforts to promptly trace and isolate the contacts of confirmed cases. The first national lockdown was implemented on March 24, 2020, and lasted for two months, until May 21, 2020. Regarding international travel, all flights (border closure) were suspended from March 21 until June 1, 2020. Later, and until the end of 2020, strict travel restrictions were imposed, with countries being categorized weekly into four categories based on their epidemiological status (green for low risk, orange for low risk but with high uncertainty, red for high risk, and gray for countries requiring special permission).
Vaccination strategy
According to the national vaccination plan of the Republic of Cyprus, vaccines were administered to the following population groups, following this hierarchy: 1) Residents and staff of nursing homes and institutions for adults with chronic illnesses, high-risk healthcare professionals (ICUs, ERs, Ambulance services), 2) Citizens over 80 years old, 3) Citizens over 75 years old, 4) Vulnerable groups at increased risk of severe illness, 5) All healthcare professionals and residents of closed communities (prisons, refugee/migrant camps, etc.), and 6) The rest of the population based on age (12-74 years old).
Vaccination in the Republic of Cyprus began on December 27, 2020, prioritizing vulnerable groups of the population initially and by age group. The eligible age groups for vaccination were announced weekly by the Ministry of Health so that appointments could be scheduled through the COVID-19 vaccination portal within the General Healthcare System (GHS) platform. The vaccines were administered at vaccination centers designated by the Ministry of Health and at authorized personal doctors’ medical centers.
By the end of 2020, a total of 2,108 vaccinations with the first dose had been administered in the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus (excl. Turkish-occupied areas).
Response measures and policies
The lifting of restrictions after the first lockdown occurred in four phases. The first phase began on May 4, with the reopening of construction sites, retail stores, and the public sector, following mandatory measures and health guidelines. The second phase began on May 21, with the reopening of public schools and outdoor restaurants, as well as the free movement of people within the country. The third phase began on June 9, with the reopening of airports, ports, shopping malls, as well as indoor restaurants, hotels, theaters, and outdoor cinemas. In the fourth phase (June 24), further relaxations were made concerning the allowed number of people in public gatherings. After the gradual reopening of the economy, the second wave of the virus hit the country a few months later. Due to the significant increase in new cases and deaths, stricter local restrictions were imposed, which were gradually intensified until a two-week local lockdown was enforced in two districts (November 12-29 in Limassol and Paphos). The second national lockdown followed in early 2021.