Cyprus quarantines arrivals in virus-emptied hotels

NICOSIA: Cyprus is quarantining 75 arrivals from Britain who missed a coronavirus deadline in mountain hotels left empty by the halt to tourism, officials said Wednesday.

The 75, who were unable to provide the required health certificate proving they were virus-free when they landed on Monday, were moved to the hotels after complaining of "unacceptable" conditions where they were first isolated.

Cypriot authorities had said they would turn anyone back who did not have the required documentation, but it decided to make an exception for the first arrivals after Monday´s deadline, who included 30 Cypriots studying at British universities.

Even with proof of a negative test for the coronavirus, everyone entering the island must automatically go into government quarantine for 14 days. Cyprus has confirmed that from Saturday it will ban all passenger flights to the island for 14 days.

Hotels have become available as quarantine facilities after the government ordered all tourist establishments to close.

Cyprus Hotel Association President Haris Loizides told state broadcaster CyBC that three hotels in the Troodos mountain resort were being used under agreements with the government.