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For shopping of essential goods most sms for movement by exception

15/01/2021 16:31

For shopping or getting supplies of essential goods and services were the vast majority of the sms movement requests sent to 8998 by residents in the Republic of Cyprus on Thursday.  The number of requests approved was 130,071.

More specifically the main reason for which citizens requested permission to go out, amid a lockdown aiming to prevent the spread of COVID-19, was shopping or getting supplies of essential goods and services (category 2). The second most popular reason was for physical exercise (category 6) and the third one for any other reason that may be justified under the lockdown measures (category 8).

According to data released by the Deputy Ministry for Innovation and Digital Policy, a total of 339,299 sms were sent, out of which 322,072 were valid. Out of those 318,102 were approved.

As of 5am Sunday, in order to move around for purposes other than to go to work, the public have to send a text message and get permission and can do so twice a day. Movement is prohibited from 21:00p.m. to 5:00a.m. of the next day.
 
The sms requests approved for going to a pharmacy, visiting a physician or for blood donation or laboratory testing for Covid-19 or for vaccination at the vaccination centres were 28,507.

The requests approved for going to a shop for essential goods/services, including take away were 130,071 and for going to the bank for transactions not available online 4,844.

For strictly necessary visits to public services or services of the wider public sector and local authorities 4,644 sms requests were approved and for helping people who cannot take care of themselves or people who must protect themselves or who are in self-isolation and/or in places of compulsory isolation (quarantine) 22,436 requests.

The requests approved for physical activity or individual sports practiced in areas were access is permitted were 64,405 and for going to a ceremony (e.g. funeral, wedding, christening) of first and second degree relatives not exceeding 10 people or for individual prayer 1,301.

For any other reason that may be justified under the lockdown measures (by presenting the necessary proof for each case) a total of 61,894 sms were approved.