COVID Cases Record New Low - Health Ministry

As 56 percent of Cyprus’ population has received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, the number of new COVID cases recorded a new low of just 29 cases on June 6, according to a health ministry bulletin.

There were 46,276 rapid tests carried out, meaning a transmission rate of 0.06 percent.

This is good news after seven months of lockdowns or severe restrictions on movement.

The question now is whether this positive development will continue into the summer and autumn, given the influx of more tourists and two more COVID-19 variants from India and Nepal. In addition, now that people are more free to move around, they chafe at the restraints and want to let go and enjoy their lives. This means they are less careful event though the pandemic isn’t over yet.

Although the COVID-19 mortality rate in Cyprus is the second-lowest in Europe, at 363 deaths, it is higher than predicted and heading towards the worst-case scenario predicted by Worldometer. In the worst case scenario, this number could rise to 368 deaths by August.

Globally, the third wave of coronavirus infections started subsiding at the end of May but there are warning bells ringing in the UK because of the India and Nepal variants. These variants can escape immunity and start new waves of infections at an alarming pace.

A break from COVID cases

If we’ve learned anything from the pandemic, it is to seize the day.

Coffee shops have re-opened on Ledra and Onosagorou Streets as life’s small pleasures come trickling through the pandemic dam. The afternoon coffee break with friends, the simple joy of listening to live music and the peace of sitting on the beach or swimming.

From June 10th, indoor venues will re-open and nightclubs will be allowed to operate.

Art galleries and theatres have reopened and the world of culture has started breathing again.

Since the cultural world shut down, the country’s politics took turn to the far right, as shown in the latest parliamentary elections. Far right parties increased their margin in the House of Representatives and that will have to be faced because it is unacceptable.

It is more important than ever to keep cultural activities alive. The arts open our minds and add to our capacity for tolerating and even understanding other points of view. In an age where religion is not in touch with social changes, the media has its own agenda and politics serves a series of polarising policies, the spirit has to find new ways to be inspired.

Culture and the arts are the most reliable bastion of freedom of thought and expression because they will never be completely controlled, only limited temporarily.

Live events coming up at Sarah’s Jazz Club