Petrol consumption in Cyprus fell by 25% in September 2020 compared to the same month last year, while petrol use dropped by 14%, the Cyprus Consumers Association said on Monday.

The UK government’s decision to put the country on lockdown for four weeks from Thursday has created shockwaves felt by Cyprus hotels, who have fired a distress signal.

There were some clear indications of economic improvement in September and October of this year, according to a report released by the University of Cyprus Economic Research Centre on Monday.

With the spectre of a new, but softer, lockdown looming, epidemiologists met Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou on Monday where they suggested tighter measures to contain COVID-19, especially in Limassol and Paphos.

The Health Ministry has called on citizens to call 1412 – from 8am to 8pm, Monday through Friday – and to visit the website ovid@moh.gov.cy for any coronavirus-related queries or clarifications.

Total new loans recorded an increase of €98.2 million, to €315.6 million in September 2020, compared with €217.4 million in the previous month, according to figures released on Monday by the Central Bank of Cyprus.

The Cyprus remake, a series of EU funded programmes that will affect every aspect of life in the country, will begin in the new year. The first of these will involve the creation of new businesses, sources at the Ministry of energy, commerce, industry and tourism told the Cyprus Mail.

Banks have processed around 70% of 6,442 applications in a state-backed mortgage relief scheme to the labour ministry, it emerged on Monday.

Revenue from tourism in Cyprus amounted just to €235.6 million for the period of January – August 2020, marking a steep reduction amounting to 87.3% year on year, as the tourism sector was hit the hardest by the coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19 referral hospital Famagusta General has evacuated its pathology ward to make more room for coronavirus patients as their numbers have shot up this week.