CORONAVIRUS - REVISED LIST OF COUNTRIES FOR TRAVEL TO CYPRUS - wef 6 August

Cyprus Mail 4 August 2020 - by Annette Chrysostomou

The health ministry announced three amendments to the list of countries from which Cyprus accepts visitors on Tuesday which mean changes in categories for Greece, Thailand and Morocco. The changes will take effect on Thursday.

Greece will move from category A to B, Thailand from category B to A and Morocco from B to C.

“The categorisation of countries, based on epidemiological risk assessment, is extremely dynamic and can change at any time, as the pandemic evolves and epidemiological data change,” the health ministry explained. “To this end, new data will be announced and the list of countries will be updated frequently.”

According to the latest update, category A, which includes countries deemed safer compared to the rest as regards their epidemiological outlook includes Austria, Germany,  Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Hungary, Poland , Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Georgia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea and Thailand.

Passengers coming from these countries do not need to test for the coronavirus or self-isolate upon arrival.

In category B, in which are countries with potentially low risk but more precarious than category A are Belgium, France, Greece, Spain, Italy, Croatia, The Netherlands, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Andorra, Monaco, Vatican City, San Marino, Australia, Rwanda, Tunisia, Uruguay, and China.

Passengers from category B countries are required to present a negative Covid-19 test certificate not older than 72 hours from a recognised laboratory.

Cypriots and their families, permanent residents and people covered by the Vienna Convention can take the test upon their arrival in Cyprus. The same applies for persons regardless of nationality, whose country of residence is not in a position to offer Covid-19 testing to those wishing to travel to the Republic of Cyprus (public or private sector). The last category is eligible for tests in Cyprus only after the Cypriot health ministry issues an announcement.

They have to pay for the cost of the test and should remain isolated until the result is announced.

Countries not listed above are in category C and are deemed at increased risk compared to the other countries.

Among them are Bulgaria, Portugal, Sweden, Luxembourg, Romania, Algeria, Serbia, Morocco and Montenegro.

Entry to Cyprus from category C countries is allowed only to Cypriot citizens permanently residing in the Republic of Cyprus and their family members, permanent residents, people allowed to enter Cyprus under the Vienna Convention and people with special permission. They have to take a test and will have to remain in self-isolation for 14 days whether the result of their Covid-19 test is positive or negative.

All passengers, regardless of the category of the country they are arriving from, are required to apply for CyprusFlightPass (https://cyprusflightpass.gov.cy/ ) within 24 hours of their departure and present this at the passport control when they arrive.

Any passenger may be asked to take a test upon arrival.

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NEW YORK IN TWO HOURS AND SYDNEY IN FIVE - VIRGIN GIVES FIRST LOOK AT SUPERSONIC JET PROJECT

Sky News 4 August 2020 

© Other The jet could reach the other side of the world in the space of a morning. Pic: Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic has revealed designs for a supersonic passenger plane capable of flying three times the speed of sound.

With a top speed of around 2,300mph (3,700kmh), it could fly from London to Sydney in just five hours - or to New York in less than two.

Virgin has teamed up with engine-maker Rolls-Royce to work on the concept, which is still in the early stages.

© Other The delta wing design is similar to the iconic shape of Concorde. Pic: Virgin Galactic

The delta-wing jet would cruise at above 60,000ft (18,300m), far higher than current passenger planes, but would only have room for nine to 19 passengers.

The project is separate from Virgin's bid to send customers to the edge of space to experience weightlessness - which has already completed a number of test flights using the SpaceshipTwo craft.

Supersonic passenger flights stopped when Concorde retired in October 2003 and no one has so far plugged the gap for ultra-fast air travel.

© Thomson Reuters Sir Richard Branson stands on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) ahead of Virgin Galactic (SPCE) trading in New York, U.S., October 28, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Virgin said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Rolls-Royce "to collaborate in designing and developing engine propulsion technology for high speed commercial aircraft" and has also worked with NASA on the concept.

The company said the Mach-3 jet would target existing long-distance commercial routes, taking off and landing normally at existing airports.

The next phase will look at things such as which materials to use, how to reduce noise and emissions, and how to keep the jet cool as it flies supersonically.

© Other Virgin's SpaceshipTwo is hoping to soon take passengers to the edge of space. Pic: Virgin Galactic

US aviation regulator the FAA has also agreed to help work on a certification framework for the plane.

Other companies are also targeting a new age of super-fast air travel.

They include aerospace giant Lockheed-Martin, and US start-up Boom Supersonic - which is set to reveal a scaled-down prototype this winter followed by test flights in 2021.

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UK CORONAVIRUS CASES EXPERIENCE HIGHEST DAILY INCREASE SINCE JUNE

The Independent 4 August 2020 - by Vincent Wood

© Provided by The Independent

The number of new coronavirus cases in the UK has risen by 938 across 24 hours – the highest daily increase in confirmed infections since late June, the government has confirmed.

The latest figures from the department of health and social care (DHSC) brought the total number of cases since the beginning of the UK’s outbreak to 305,623.

The daily increase in cases is the highest confirmed figure since 26 June, part of a gradual upward trend in infections since the bulk of lockdown measures were eased in early July.

The DHSC figures also updated the number of people to have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK to 46,210 as of 5pm on Sunday – up by nine from the day before.

Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies show there have now been 56,400 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

It comes as the government admits the latest round of local lockdown rules have not yet been carried into law despite being brought into force four days prior.

Those living in areas of Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and east Lancashire have been the latest to see their ability to go about daily life curtailed, with a ban implemented to stop cross-household gatherings in homes or pubs.

However while guidance published on Friday stated that people from different households meeting in a private home or garden would risk a £100 fine, DHSC has confirmed it is yet to implement laws bringing the rules into force.

The department said it was trying to make the changes legally enforceable as soon as possible but insisted the rules still applied from 31 July. DHSC has declined to comment on what legal basis the rules were currently being enforced.

Meanwhile the mayor of London has hit out at the central government for not briefing him on alleged contingency plans to lockdown the entirety of the capital within the confines of the M25 motorway, which encircles the city.

First reported in The Sunday Times, the idea of using the orbital motorway as a barrier around the capital was allegedly floated in a “war game” session held by the prime minister last week.

In a letter sent to the PM from Sadiq Khan and the chair of London Councils, Peter John, the mayor said failing to include local authorities would lead to mistakes being made.

“It is with great surprise that we read in the Sunday papers that government held a critical exercise last week in which a major resurgence in Covid-19 infections in London was a central scenario,” the letter says.

“According to media reports, the plans included using the M25 as a quarantine ring – effectively sealing off the city.

“Our surprise is that such far-reaching contingency plans have been discussed and tested without the involvement or awareness of London’s government.

“This is clearly totally unacceptable and an affront to London and Londoners.”

Additional reporting by PA

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REGENERON SAYS ANTIBODY COCKTAIL PREVENTS AND TREATS COVID-19 IN ANIMALS

Reuters 4 August 2020 - by Michael Erman

© Reuters/Alkis Konstantinidis Scientist works on cells that produce antibodies against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in a university lab in Athens

By Michael Erman

(Reuters) - Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Monday that the COVID-19 antibody drug combination it is developing both prevented and treated the disease in rhesus macaques and hamsters, adding to hope that it might work for people.

The U.S. biotech company said in the animal study, which has not yet been peer reviewed, that the cocktail of two monoclonal antibodies was able to "almost completely block establishment of virus infection."

Regeneron said the cocktail was also able to minimize infection in a second study in which animals were infected with a much higher level of the virus. The prophylactic effect was greatly diminished with a lower dose of the drug, the company said.

It said the results matched or exceeded effects recently shown in animal studies of vaccine candidates.

Effective treatments and vaccines are seen as essential to halting a pandemic that has claimed more than 690,000 lives worldwide.

The infected animals treated with the antibodies cleared the virus faster than those given a placebo, the company said.

The lead researchers said the data suggests the therapy may offer clinical benefit in both prevention and treatment of COVID-19. They also said the animals did not show any signs of increased viral load or worsening of pathology after treatment, an important safety signal that suggests it will not worsen symptoms in humans.

The studies were conducted on a total of 36 rhesus macaques and 50 hamsters. Positive results in animals are no guarantee of success in humans.

Regeneron has already started late-stage clinical trials in humans to assess the antibody treatment's ability to prevent and treat COVID-19.

The company signed a $450 million contract with the U.S. government as part of its Operation Warp Speed program to provide the United States with the treatment if it succeeds.

Monoclonal antibodies are among the most widely used biotechnology medicines. Eli Lilly and Co and other drugmakers are testing similar treatments against COVID-19.

(Reporting by Michael Erman; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

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NUMBER OF UK CITIZENS EMIGRATING TO EU HAS RISEN BY 30% SINCE BREXIT VOTE

The Guardian 4 August 2020 -by Lisa O'Carroll, Brexit Correspondent

© Provided by The Guardian Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

The number of British nationals emigrating to other EU countries has risen by 30% since the Brexit referendum, with half making their decision to leave in the first three months after the vote, research has found.

Analysis of data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Eurostat shows that migration from Britain to EU states averaged 56,832 people a year in 2008-15, growing to 73,642 a year in 2016-18.

The study also shows a 500% increase in those who made the move and then took up citizenship in an EU state. Germany saw a 2,000% rise, with 31,600 Britons naturalising there since the referendum.

“These increases in numbers are of a magnitude that you would expect when a country is hit by a major economic or political crisis,” said Daniel Auer, co-author of the study by Oxford University in Berlin and the Berlin Social Science Center.

The building of the Stockholm immigration office (Photo by JOKER / Paul Eckenroth/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

According to interviews, half chose to leave the UK quickly. “Another important finding from the empirical evidence associated with Brexit is reduced levels of consideration and level-headedness in decision-making, with increases in levels of impulsiveness, spontaneity and corresponding risk-taking,” the researchers said.

While the withdrawal agreement signed in January enshrines the residency, work and social rights of EU citizens in the UK and Britons in the rest of the bloc, it failed to guarantee the free movement rights of British migrants, restricting future employment and residency prospects in other member states.

Co-author Daniel Tetlow said that “Brexit was by far the most dominant driver of migration decisions since 2016”. The jump in citizenship was “further evidence that an increasing number are making migration decisions to protect themselves from some of the most negative effects of Brexit on their lives”, the report said.

The key loss for British nationals is the freedom to move country within the EU or to work or offer services across a border. This does not apply to EU nationals in the UK who retain free movement rights beyond Brexit courtesy of their EU member state citizenship.

It means that unless British nationals take out citizenship in their host country, they can no longer work in or offer a service to another EU member state, impacting professions including accounting, law, architecture, translation and health.

The biggest jump in migration was to Spain, where an estimated 380,000 British nationals live. Registration has not been essential in the country so many have lived there without being included in official Spanish immigration data, with an average of just 2,300 a year registering as migrating to the country between 2008 and 2015. After the referendum, this jumped fivefold, with 21,250 registrations in the two years between 2016 and 2018.

The second most popular country for British nationals was France, which does not require registration of EU migrants. Between 2008 and 2015 the number of registrations was just over 500 a year. After the referendum this rose tenfold with 5,000 registrations over the following two years.

In Germany, 14,600 Britons had dual nationality in 2019 compared to 622 in 2015. A total of 31,600 applied and received German citizenship in the three years after the referendum (2016 to 2019) with another 15,000 German passports expected for 2020. Overall half the estimated 120,000 Britons in Germany are expected to have dual citizenship by the end of this year.

A border control sign for European Union citizens inside an airport

Interviews with migrants in Germany for the study found those who had made the move to the EU since 2015 considered it a “big risk” but were prepared to make the trade-off to secure future residency and employment routes across 27 countries.

Tetlow said the rise in naturalisation numbers was a striking commitment “to integrate or socially embed”, with an increase in language learning and community involvement. “We’re observing a new social integration phenomenon and a redefining of what it means to be British European. In 2019, Brits came in just behind Turks in numbers receiving German citizenship – way ahead of Poles, Romanians, Iraqis or Syrians,” he added.

Case study

Andreas Mitchell’s family moved from Scotland to Germany in 2018 after the 20-year-old was diagnosed with a form of leukaemia and they feared Brexit could delay medicines or treatment.

Andreas said: “About six months after the referendum I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. I was getting treatment but these kind of things can start deteriorating over the years, and eventually we decided we should probably leave in case things started to get difficult.

© Thomson Reuters A pro-Brexit supporter (L) and anti-Brexit demonstrator interact outside Europe House on Brexit day in London, Britain January 31, 2020. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

“We had a fear that if a hard Brexit came there could be delays at the border with medicines coming through and my treatment would have to be prioritised and it would get interrupted by two or three weeks. With leukaemia you can’t wait a few weeks.”

He added: “It became a question of should we stay, things deteriorating financially for the family – petrol into Aberdeen every day mounts up cost-wise and there was a risk if my treatment got postponed.”

Mitchell’s German-born mother, Uschi, says they loved their life and home in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, and they miss their family and friends there – but the town and area have already changed significantly because of Brexit.

“Even without Covid-19 the economy had started to contract. People and investors alike became increasingly cautious when it came to spending money,” she said.

They also considered Ireland and Italy, but Uschi got a job in Germany. Fear over Brexit was “the main factor”, she added. “Where we were wasn’t brilliant for work so we thought we would not be able to sustain ourselves and Andreas’s diagnosis was a big scare, so Brexit was the big push in the end.”

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COMPLETION AND DELIVERY OF TWO ADDITIONAL PHOTOVOLTAIC PARKS

in-cyprus 4 August 2020 - by Andreas Nicolaides

Two additional photovoltaic parks, with a total capacity of 2.5MW were completed and connected to the EAC national network, from L&T Sun Power Ltd. The two parks are part of a larger development program of photovoltaic parks of the company, aiming at producing energy from Renewable Energy Sources with a total capacity of 10MW.

L&T Sun Power Ltd, combines the joint efforts and the common goal of the investors and company’s shareholders which are Justy Business Ltd of Dr. Kirill Zimarin and Mr. Andrey Vedenkov, Lanitis Energy Ltd, of the Lanitis family and T.P. Timotheou Ltd, of Mr. Timotheos Timotheou for the continuous supply and the enrichment of the energy production balance in Cyprus from environmentally friendly sources. This privately funded investment is substantially helping Cyprus meet its EU obligations and the overall goal for greener energy.

The two parks that were recently connected, one in Dali of 1.5MW and one in Geri of 1MW, come to contribute significantly to the further production and supply of energy in Cyprus from Renewable Energy Sources. The delivery of the two parks will be followed in a short time by the completion of 3 additional parks that will increase the total supply of energy to 10MW.

More specifically, for the installation of the two parks, 6.228 photovoltaic panels and 40 voltage converters were placed in an area of 46.900 square meters. The two photovoltaic systems have the capacity to produce and supply about 650 home residences with clean energy. They will also assist in the conservation of 3,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year, which would require 85.000 trees to absorb them from the environment.

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INTERIOR MINISTER WANTS REMEDIES TO TOWN 'GHETTOS'; BUILDING PERMIT IRREGULARITIES

in-cyprus 4 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

Interior Minister Nicos Nouris wants all four big municipalities in Cyprus to remedy illegalities regarding violations in building permits or dilapidated premises turned into places where many foreigner nationals live together.

This means that foreign nationals who almost live in ‘ghettos’ in parts of the four cities will have to be accommodated elsewhere, Philenews reported on Tuesday.

The Minister has called on Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos municipalities to list all such buildings and then either the local authorities or the state or jointly to carry out targeted checks.

The Minister’s thinking is that dilapidated buildings are dangerous and could cause the death of many people if they collapse.

He also pointed out the possible noise and other pollution sparked by the piling of too many residents in one place.

And finally, the fact that most of these buildings could be renovated and used by local authorities.

 

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MEN FINED €800 EACH FOR BREAKING QUARANTINE

Cyprus Mail 4 August 2020 - by staff reporter

Two foreign nationals were fined €800 each on Monday for violating quarantine rules after arriving on the island in a yacht last month.

The two men, 42 and 33, should have self-isolated in their boat for 14 days but were caught outside by police at lunchtime on July 30.

The case was filed on Monday morning with the court handing the pair a fine of €800 each.

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EASY JET EXPANDS LIMITED SCHEDULE AS SUMMER BOOKINGS RISE

in-cyprus 4 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

British low cost airline easyJet said it planned to fly about 40% of its capacity over the rest of the summer, more than originally scheduled as bookings were stronger than expected despite ongoing restrictions due to the pandemic.

After planes were grounded for months until mid-June bringing airlines to their knees, the tentative return to flying in Europe has been threatened by rising COVID-19 cases, prompting the UK to bring back travel restrictions for Spain.

But easyJet said late summer bookings were “performing well” and it would now fly 40% of last year’s capacity in its fourth quarter, compared to earlier guidance of 30%.

It also said its fourth quarter loss would be smaller than the headline loss before tax of 324.5 million pounds ($424 million) which it posted for the three months to the end of June, which reflected over two months when travel was halted.

The pace of easyJet’s capacity recovery is behind Europe’s largest budget carrier, Ryanair, which said for July it would fly about 40% of normal capacity, rising to 60% in August and 70% in September, and Wizz Air which is at about 70%.

But Ryanair was forced to cut its annual passenger target last week, warning of the impact of a potential second wave of the virus.

EasyJet said on Tuesday it remained focused on costs. Its operational cost cash burn during its third quarter was lower than the previously guided 30 to 40 million pounds per week, putting total cash burn at 774 million pounds for the quarter, lower than guidance of 1 billion pounds.

The airline said in May it would need to cut 4,500 jobs and become more efficient to stay competitive and survive the pandemic which will result in a much smaller travel market.

(Reuters)

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TUESDAY AUGUST 4 - CORONAVIRUS GLOBAL UPDATE

in-cyprus 4 August 2020 - by Annie Charalambous

The World Health Organization has warned that there might never be a “silver bullet” for COVID-19 in the form of a perfect vaccine.

And that the road to normality would be long, with some countries requiring a reset of strategy.

EUROPE

* Millions of tests able to detect the coronavirus within 90 minutes will be rolled out in Britain, the health minister said.

* France said the number of people in intensive care units for COVID-19 stood at 384 on Monday, versus 371 on Friday, the second time in a week that figure has increased after declining for 16 weeks.

* Norway stopped all cruise ships with more than 100 people on board from disembarking at its ports from Monday.

* Greece will make mask-wearing compulsory on the decks of ferries sailing to its islands, extending the requirement beyond indoor public spaces.

AMERICAS

* The U.S. government’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said states with high coronavirus case counts should reconsider imposing lockdown restrictions, emphasizing the need to get cases to a low baseline before the fall flu season.

* Congressional Democrats and Trump administration officials resumed talks aimed at hammering out a coronavirus relief bill, after missing a vital deadline to extend relief benefits to tens of millions of jobless Americans.

ASIA-PACIFIC

* Vietnam is embroiled in a “decisive” fight against the coronavirus, its premier said, focusing on the city of Danang where infections have appeared in four factories.

* Tens of millions of people in and around the Philippine capital will go back to a strict lockdown from Tuesday.

* Australia’s second-biggest city, Melbourne, already under night curfew, announced fresh restrictions on industries including retail and construction.

MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

* One person is dying from COVID-19 every seven minutes in Iran, state television said.

* Three cabinet ministers in Gambia have tested positive for COVID-19, the presidency said.

MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS

* COVID-19 survivors suffer higher rates of psychiatric disorders, according to a study conducted by San Raffaele hospital in Milan.

* Rival drugmakers AbbVie Inc, Amgen Inc and Takeda Pharmaceuticals Inc have begun treating patients in a trial to quickly show whether a drug from each company can be repurposed and used against COVID-19.

* U.S. drugmaker Eli Lilly & Co is beginning a late-stage trial to study whether one of its experimental COVID-19 antibody treatments can prevent the spread of the virus in residents and staff at U.S. nursing homes.

ECONOMIC FALLOUT

* U.S. manufacturing activity accelerated to its highest level in nearly 1-1/2 years in July as orders increased despite a resurgence in new infections.

* Asia’s factory pain continued to ease in July with contraction slowing in big export-reliant nations.

(Reuters)

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