Cyprus

Fitch Ratings announced on Friday that it has affirmed Cyprus' credit rating at "BBB" but has revised its outlook to stable.
Fitch said that the revision of Cyprus' outlook reflects the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic on the country's economy and on its sovereign fiscal position.

Health officials in Cyprus were perturbed over an incident when a self-quarantined man infected with the Covid-19 disease went out to local pharmacies in search of chloroquine, an existing drug that is still open to debate around the world.

The coronavirus outbreak has brought about a disturbing surge in cases of domestic violence in Cyprus, with the 1440 helpline receiving over 2,000 calls between the date of the confirmation of the island's first coronavirus case and March 31.

OPAP, Europe's fourth-biggest betting business, said it had seen almost all its revenue wiped out by the closure of its outlets due to a coronavirus lockdown in Greece and Cyprus.

Cyprus extended a ban on commercial air links with 28 countries for another two weeks on Thursday to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Two overseas Cypriot students are challenging a ban on incoming flights from 28 countries imposed by the government in Nicosia on March 21 in response to the coronavirus epidemic, as they try to get back home, Cyprus media reported on Thursday.

Tuesday saw another death of an 82-year-old man who had contracted coronavirus, while 32 more tested positive, raising the total confirmed cases in the Republic of Cyprus to 262.

A new case was also confirmed on Tuesday in the north, where total cases reached 70 and fatalities remained stable at one.

Cyprus and seven other member-states have asked the European Union to support road transport firms hit by the coronavirus outbreak and halt work on reforms to truck drivers' working conditions, which they said would leave vulnerable companies worse off.

The Turkish Cypriot government has taken additional measures to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus on the island.

As part of those actions, the government has declared a curfew between 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting March 31.

The curfew will be effective until April 5.

Cyprus imposed a curfew on Monday to contain the spread of coronavirus, extending a broad lockdown introduced two weeks ago after a weekend surge in recorded cases.

From March 31, people with only some exceptions are banned from leaving their homes after 9 p.m. 6 a.m. the following morning, the health ministry said.