KIRSTY DEWAR - Alexander's Pub, Paphos - 8 and 30 August

KIRSTY DEWAR

Alexander's Pub, Paphos

Saturday 8 August - 3pm

Sunday 30 August - 3pm

Free entrance. Reservations: Tel: 96537613. 

Join us at your no.1 Sports Bar in Paphos for an afternoon of live music from Kirsty Dewar. With a great atmosphere, a great crowd and live music - the events always sell out so reserve your table now by calling Scott 96537613. Kirsty Dewar, the musician, songwriter, vocalist, entertainer, guitarist and musical enthusiast performs all over Cyprus at weddings, festivals, events and much more. She releases her own music which is now available on iTunes and Spotify and hopes to travel the world with her music.

Directions: From the Kings Avenue shopping mall, go over the roundabout with Begonia Garden Centre on your left and turn right at the next traffic lights by the big church. Turn left at the T-junction and immediately right then left just before the small park. ALEXANDER’S PUB PAPHOS, Unit 1 & 2 Tefkrou Street, 8041 Paphos, Paphos. Tel: 96537613.Facebook: @AlexandersPubPaphos.

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THE CREW - The Hogshead Pub, Emba - 7 August

THE CREW

The Hogshead Pub, Emba

7 August - 8pm

Tickets: €5. Reservations: Tel: 99994449. 

The Crew presents different approaches to pieces we already know and love. 

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Living Room Updates 2020

I thought it would be a good time to share more pictures of the living room, especially since we just got a new rug! Now, that sounds simple but of course there is a long Rug Story!

It has taken us about a year to find one we like! I know! We are particular. It had to be soft, plushy, but not to thick, not too dark, busy or too light colored. Nothing that would clash with the curtains, which was the biggest problem! We looked at so many! But I think we only tried five.... Still that seemed like a lot! 

Before I forget to mention, we finally decided on the Mohawk Marrakesh Damask. Mom loves the Mohawk brand and it is made in the USA! (We still had to air it out on the front porch for a week before bringing it inside. Not sure why rugs have to stink so much!)

We actually start looking for a new rug last summer as our old one didn't recover from a washing. But we were ready for a new one and it was starting to look sad and worn. In the fall, right before we started the radiator project we tried out a couple of rugs and didn't like any. Then we decided to post-pone a new rug as it was a bit of a construction zone! (I think Kerri Dog missed having a rug!)

We did learn things from our first batch of rug trials. The curtains kind of clash with any pattern, navy blue was too dark on the dark floors, and rug shopping is hard work! Lol!

This rug comes in a couple of different colors and I hadn't realized at first that last fall we tried the navy blue one (which is the only color our local Lowes carried.) So glad I took another look online and found this one! 

This wall is still rather blank... but I am thinking on it! 

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CORONAVIRUS - SECOND WAVE MAY HAVE HIT SPAIN, EXPERT SUGGESTS

The Independent 24 July 2020 - by Zoe Tidman

© Provided by The Independent

Spain may be experiencing a second wave of coronavirus, a government expert has suggested.

Her comments came as the country’s health ministry reported 971 new infections in a one-day period on Thursday – the biggest daily jump since lockdown ended.

Maria Jose Sierra, a government virus expert, warned: “In two weeks, we have tripled our rate of contagion.”

She said: “We could be seeing a second wave, but we have to see what happens in the coming weeks.”

Ms Sierra said the virus has spread to the general community in the large cities of Barcelona and Zaragoza.

Like elsewhere in Europe, Spain has started loosening restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of the virus. New cases had slowed to a trickle in June, before a national lockdown was lifted.

However, some regional authorities introduced new measures on Thursday to contain local spikes.

Murcia, in the southeast of Spain, sealed off 30,000 people in the town of Totana. People were told to stay put after 55 infections were linked to a bar there.

Madrid authorities have also urged citizens to wear a mask even at home when with people outside of their own household.

Spain reported daily increases of more than 500 cases for six straight days after more than 970 new infections in a 24-hour period were announced on Thursday.

The daily figure remained under 300 in May when Spain was easing out of a three-month lockdown.

Many of the new outbreaks have been connected to nightlife and gatherings of young people at outdoor parties.

In some parts of Spain, restrictions have been imposed or messages changed over this month to try and stop the virus from spreading.

Barcelona residents were urged to stay home in a voluntary lockdown after an increase in the number of new cases in the city.

In early July, authorities were reported to have temporarily shut some popular beaches due to fears of overcrowding.

More than 288,000 have tested positive for Covid-19 in Spain as of Friday, while the death toll stood at around 28,400.

Additional reporting by agencies

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TWO NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES OUT OF TOTAL OF 1,109 TESTS

in-cyprus 24 July 2020 - by Maria Bitar

Two new cases of corona virus detected on Thursday, bringing the total up to 1,047.

According to the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit of the Ministry of Health 2 new cases of the SARS-CoV-II virus were detected out of a total of 1,109 laboratory diagnostic tests carried out.

In detail, the following laboratory diagnostic tests were carried out with the detection of new cases:

223 tests carried out with samples taken through private initiative, 1 case detected.

57 tests carried out with samples taken under the program of referrals by Personal Doctors and control of special groups through the Public Health Clinics, 1 case detected.

Both new cases are domestic and both are Cypriot with no recent travel history and with no contact with confirmed cases.

In addition, the following laboratory diagnostic tests were performed, without the detection of a case:

131 tests carried out with samples taken in the process of tracking the contacts of already confirmed cases.

595 tests carried out with samples taken in the context of passenger and repatriation control.

34 tests carried out with samples taken under the control program of 10,000 workers who were reactivated during the second and third phases of the strategy for the gradual lifting of restrictions.

69 tests carried out with samples taken from the Microbiological Laboratories of the General Hospitals.

Specifically, one person had a symptom (loss of scent) and had the test done privately.

The second person had a fever and was tested through the Public Health Clinics.

Both new incidents are from Limassol.

It is very important, the Ministry of Health stresses, to point out that, based on the latest cases of domestic cases, it seems that the virus is still active within the community and therefore everyone is required to show responsibility, to respect the measures and to contact their GP immediately should they experience any symptoms of the virus.

Based on today’s data the total number of confirmed cases is now 1,047.

Source: Philenews

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QUEERWAVE - LGBTQ+ ONLINE FILM FESTIVAL - 1-8 August

   QUEERWAVE - LGBTQ+ Online Film Festival

   Online

   1-8 August

On the initiative of a few young Cypriot cinephiles and lovers of the arts, the first LGBTQ+ film festival in Cyprus will be launched online this summer.

Queer Wave is an international film festival focusing on LGBTQ+ cinema. In its pilot edition, the festival will be held online 1-8 August throughout Cyprus. For eight days, and free of charge, viewers from all over the island will have the opportunity to enjoy a rich programme of award-winning short and feature films, from a range that will combine fiction, documentary and animation.

Queer Wave is a response to the problematic, chronic absence of LGBTQ+ films from the Cypriot market, and will be focusing on films that have never been shown before in Cyprus. The festival welcomes LGBTQ+ individuals and allies, as well as artists, devoted cinephiles of all ages, and every other open-minded person curious to discover something new. The aim is to establish a platform where stereotypes on gender and sexuality are challenged, and where solidarity and freedom of expression are championed through film.

We hope that people all over Cyprus will embrace this initiative, organised with great efforts by the festival team under the adverse conditions of the pandemic. With Pride celebrations cancelled worldwide this summer, Queer Wave aspires to celebrate diversity and human rights through the transformative power of cinema.

 

The full festival line-up will soon be available at www.queerwave.com

For updates, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: @queerwavecyprus.

Our Facebook event can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/events/212138116674786/

 

Main Sponsor: Youth Board of Cyprus (ReCOVer20 funding scheme)

Queer Wave is supported by:

Accept – LGBTI Cyprus

Queer Cyprus Association

Cyprus Youth Council

Embassy of the Netherlands

Embassy of Sweden

Swedish Institute

Goethe-Institut Cyprus

British Council

A&P Language Institute & Translation Centre LTD

Communication Sponsor: CyBC

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EUROPE LEARNS TO LIVE WITH THE MASK

in-cyprus 24 July 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

People in England will be required by law to wear a face covering in shops and supermarkets from Friday, extending a rule already applied to public transport.

As European governments seek to open their economies after months of lock-downs, national authorities broadly acknowledge that masks or other face coverings can help limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Here is an overview of regulations in place in the region’s largest economies:

GERMANY – The rules are set state by state, but coverings are mandatory in shops and public transportation nationwide. In some states there are fines for not wearing them, in others not.

FRANCE – Mask-wearing is now compulsory in all enclosed spaces after a resurgence of cases. Some towns with lots of tourists have also opted to make masks mandatory in the busiest areas outdoors.

ITALY – Masks are always mandatory in closed public spaces, including on public transport, and whenever it is impossible to maintain social distancing outdoors. Regions can impose stricter rules if necessary.

NETHERLANDS – Masks are mandatory on public transportation including at airports, and are not required otherwise.

SPAIN – Masks are mandatory everywhere outside the home in Spain except – for now – in Madrid and the Canary islands. In those two regions, masks are not compulsory if you are outdoors and can keep a 1.5-metre distance from others.

POLAND -People must wear masks in public indoor spaces if they are unable to maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from others.

GREECE – Mask-wearing is mandatory on public transport, for front line workers, and for anyone visiting a supermarket.

CYPRUS – Front line workers have to wear a mask.

SWEDEN – Face masks remain a rare sight. There are no rules or recommendations regarding face masks with the public health agency favouring social distancing and saying studies are inconclusive regarding their benefits.

(Reuters)

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LAST MINUTE CANCELLATION OF ALL NICOSIA HOSPITAL'S CARDIOLOGY DEPT APPOINTMENTS

in-cyprus 24 July 2020 - by Maria Bitar

All appointments at Nicosia General Hospital’s Cardiology Department on Friday got cancelled the very last minute with anxious patients receiving an SMS telling them to reschedule, Philenews reports.

Patients unsuccessfully tried to contact the hospital but the President of the Federation of Patients’ Association of Cyprus (OSAK) Marios Kouloumas complained that “no one answers the phones”.

Even those few patients who managed to eventually contact the Cardiology Department and requested a rescheduling of their appointment were left disappointed. Because new appointments given to them were no sooner than February 2021.

Kouloumas said that a typical example that happens to be a regular occurrence lately is that of a heart patient who had an appointment with his cardiologist in June, “it was cancelled on him and rescheduled for July and it has now been cancelled again.”  This time the rescheduling is for February 2021.

He also said that the complaints that reach OSAK are many and stressed patients should not be treated in such a manner.

“Unless someone is trying to oust citizens from the public healthcare sector and turn them to the direction of the private sector, there is no other plausible explanation for us,” he added. .

OSAK will ask for explanations as to what preceded Friday’s cancellations and investigate whether the same unacceptable incident has been observed in the cardiology departments of other public hospitals.

Patients, particularly those with serious heart problems, cannot afford to have their appointments postponed for five or six months, he concluded.

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BELGIAN GOVERNMENT REINSTATES LOCKDOWN MEASURES AFTER RISE IN INFECTIONS

in-cyprus 24 July 2020 - by Maria Bitar

Belgium will tighten Covid-19 containment measures on July 25 after a rise in infections, Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès said, requiring the use of face masks in crowded outdoor public spaces and tracing measures at restaurants and bars.

This comes about after the daily infection rate hit numbers not seen since mid-May with 32% of new cases being in the city of Antwerp.

The relatively small size of the country therefore, has forced the government to block plans to allow large gatherings as it has one of the world’s highest fatality rates per capita.

The government had initially eased the lockdown and had planned to loosen restrictions further on Thursday, but a series of localised outbreaks and a 91% spike in nationwide infections last week forced a turnaround.

“The latest figures should not throw us into panic but have to be taken seriously”, Wilmès told a news conference on Thursday.

Under the new measures, Belgians will have to wear a mask in public, including at outdoor markets, shopping streets and other crowded sites.

Tighter measures will also be imposed on bars and restaurants, where masks will become compulsory for those not seated.

Customers will also have to leave their contact details to facilitate tracing in case of localised outbreaks.

Night shops will have to close by 10 pm.

“Young adults between 20 and 30 are the most frequently affected. Although the number of infections is increasing throughout the country, we also see more local flare-ups”, Wilmès added.

With the holiday season in full flow, all returning travellers will need to fill an electronic form listing places they visited abroad before entering Belgium.

“It’s a blow to our morale but we must take action today so that we have no regrets tomorrow. We must act collectively. Everyone is an actor in this crisis”, said Wilmès.

Belgians will continue to be allowed to meet as many as 15 friends a week after the government decided against cutting the number to 10.

An easing of restrictions could be announced on September 1st potentially allowing a resumption of trade fairs.

“These rules are not advice but instructions. And as always, take care of yourself, and take care of others. And the best way to do that is by following the measures”, Wilmès concluded.

Source: Reuters London

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CORONAVIRUS - MINISTRY CALLS ON WORKERS TO GET TESTS

Cyprus Mail 24 July 2020 - by Evie Andreou

The health ministry on Friday called on people working at gyms, malls, hotels, airports and other businesses offering services to make use of the coronavirus testing programme currently running, warning that complacency could damage the country’s good epidemiological outlook.

The ministry said that so far 6,165 tests have been given of the 10,000 available to employees of businesses that resumed operations last month after lockdown relaxations and called on those who have not got tested to make use of the programme which will run until August 12.

This concerns people working at gyms, malls and department stores, hotels, indoors catering services, museums, libraries, archaeological sites, ports, airports, and higher education summer private programmes.

The ministry repeatedly expressed concerns following the recent detection of some cases in the community with no epidemiological connection with another confirmed case, or with travel history.

“The need to keep the whole of society on alert becomes even more important,” it said on Friday. “The very positive epidemiological indicators of recent weeks make our country an example to follow on the way it dealt with the pandemic.” It warned, however, that this extraordinary epidemiological picture, “which we have all achieved with responsibility and seriousness, can easily be overturned if there is complacency and lack of discipline.”

The ministry recalled that workers can directly make appointments to labs offering the free tests.

For Paphos this is - Ximeia Poulidis, Emba [opposite Papantiniou Supermarket, Chlorakas]

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