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COVID-19: Cyprus to pay the medical bill if tourists catch virus
COVID-19: Cyprus to pay the medical bill if tourists catch virus
Cyprus hopes to attract tourists after its coronavirus pandemic lockdown by paying the medical bills of anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 while holidaying on the island, officials said Wednesday.
The plan was contained in a letter to tour operators and airlines detailing the safety measures Cyprus is taking to ensure the safety of its tourism sector and tourist.
The letter was made public Wednesday and signed by the ministers of foreign affairs, transport, and tourism.
The Mediterranean island is marketing itself as a safe holiday destination during the global pandemic.
The Republic of Cyprus has reported 939 novel coronavirus cases and only 17 deaths.
The government said it is “committed to taking care of all travellers who test positive during their stay, as well as their families and close contacts”.
It pledged to cover accommodation, dining and medical care if a tourist falls ill with the virus.
The “traveller will only need to bear the cost of their airport transfer and repatriation flight,” it said.
– ‘Quarantine hotels’ –
A 100-bed hospital will be available exclusively for tourists who test positive, with more beds available “at very short notice if required”.
An additional 112 beds in intensive care units with 200 respirators will be reserved for critically ill patients.
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Designated “quarantine hotels” will have 500 rooms available for family members and close contacts of patients.
Other hotels on the island will be allowed to remain open if a guest tests positive, but their room will “undergo a deep clean”.
Authorities have forecast a 70 per cent decline in tourist arrivals in 2020.
Tourism earned Cyprus €2.68 billion ($2.94 bn) in 2019 — about 15 per cent of gross domestic product — down one per cent from the previous year, which was bolstered by a record 3.97 million arrivals.
Cyprus plans to reopen its airports on June 9 to arrivals from 13 countries considered low risk.
These include Israel, Greece, Germany, Austria and Malta but the island’s two biggest markets Britain and Russia are not on the approved list.
Those arriving between June 9–19 will need to provide a health certificate proving they do not have the virus.
That requirement will be dropped from June 20, when another six countries will be added to the approved list, including Switzerland and Poland.
Cyprus says it will update the list of approved countries on a weekly basis based on scientific advice.
Officials will administer temperature checks and free random testing of arrivals.
Having tested over 10 per cent of its population, Cyprus says it has one of the lowest coronavirus infection rates in Europe.
“Very few countries worldwide, especially in the Mediterranean, can boast about such statistics,” the letter said.
Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, has approved the implementation of N30,000 as minimum wage for the workers in the state.
The secretary to the state government, Folashade Ayoade disclosed this on Tuesday after an extensive meeting with the organized labour in Lokoja
She blamed the delay in the implementation on the inability for the committee to meet regularly due to the covid-19 pandemic which has been overcome.
The SSG equally commended the organised labour for their understanding and patience, which she said has resulted into the signing of the implementation of the new minimum wage.
Read Also: FCTA Set to Implement Minimum Wage for FCT Workers
Author: Eunice Johnson, Abuja
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has put Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) on notice that it will stop selling forex to them by the end of 2022. CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele made this known in Abuja on Thursday at the end of the Bankers’ Committee Meeting where he also introduced the RT200 Programme.
Emefiele said the time had come for the banks to go out there and source for forex by funding entrepreneurs with ideas. The CBN, Emefiele said, will support the banks by granting rebates and other support until the banks find their feet in sourcing their forex by themselves.
He also disclosed that the apex bank’s policies and measures have led to a significant improvement in diaspora inflow from an average of US$6 million per week in December 2020 to an average of over US$100 million per week by January 2022. He added that the CBN would be reviewing these intervention programmes going forward to ensure that they continue to achieve the desired results.
He said international bodies, including some embassies and donor agencies, have been complicit in illegal forex transactions that have hindered the flow of foreign exchange into the country.
Read Also: CBN Encourages Nigerians to Accept E-Naira
Author: Gift Wada, Abuja
The Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.) has approved the deployment of 37 Comptrollers to various Units, Departments and Commands across the country.
This was disclosed in a release signed on Tuesday by the Customs Deputy National, DC Timi Bomodi for the Comptroller General of Customs.
Among those deployed are the present National PRO of Customs Comptroller Joseph Attah who will assume the office of Area Controller of Kebbi Command, Comptroller AAS Oloyede who shall be moving from ICT/MOD to Tin Can Island Port Command, while Comptroller SI Bomoi to FCT Command. Other postings are Comptroller BA Jaiyeoba to Oyo/Osun Command, Comptroller A Dappa-Williams to Eastern Marine Command, Compt. MA Umar Kano/Jigawa, Compt. KC Egwuh ICT/MOD, Compt. LM Mark Enugu/Anambra/Ebonyi, Compt. T Tachio CTC Kano, Compt. AA Umar Western Marine, Compt. M Dansakwa North Eastern Marine, Compt. AC Ayalogu T & T and Compt. KD Ilesanmi will assume duty as Comptroller Board among others.
Ali in postings released on 7th of February, charged the newly posted Comptrollers to justify the confidence reposed in them by NCS Management by bringing to bear their years of experience and training in trade facilitation and anti-smuggling activities on their new assignment.
Given the enormous expectations of government regarding revenue generation in the current year, the Comptroller General reiterated the need for all Area Controllers and Unit heads to take full charge of the affairs of their Commands by ensuring absolute compliance with extant fiscal policies while leveraging on the efficient management of data to optimize trade facilitation and revenue collection.
Furthermore, the CGC directed all officers to be extremely vigilant in protecting the lives and wellbeing of Nigerians by ensuring the full fortification of our borders against the incursion of smugglers and other cross border criminals.
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