Police reported 164 citizens and 5 shop owners in a total of 13,031 checks island-wide in the last 24 hours, during the first day of a new set of measures, allowing restaurants, bars and coffee shops to resume their operations outdoors while extending curfew until 23.00 hours.
A police press officer told the Cyprus News Agency that in Nicosia the checks were 1,864 and 19 citizens were fined, in Limassol the Police carried out 5,752 checks and reported 99 citizens and 3 shop owners. In Larnaka 11 citizens and 1 shop owner were fined in a total of 1,207 checks, in Paphos the Police conducted 1,266 checks and fined 17 people and 1 shop owner while in Famagusta the checks were 1,057 and 11 citizens were reported. In Morphou 1 citizen was fined in a total of 880 police checks.
The Traffic Department made 668 checks and 6 people were fined. The Emergency Response Unit made 557 checks and no violations were reported. The Marine Police carried out 123 checks with no reports.
Fines were handed out to citizens mainly because they did not send the SMS required for movement or for not wearing a protective face mask. Three of the premises fined were in Limassol, a butcher shop and a hair dressing salon, as well as a brewery which served guests in an area that is not considered to be an open space. The brewery was ordered to suspend operation until 18th of March.
In Paphos a coffee shop was fined with 500 euro because guests were sitting indoors. A mini market was fined finally in Larnaca because the employee at that time was not having a valid rapid test.