In today’s episode, aced with the prospect of teacher strikes, the government has walked back the launch date for the ‘test to stay’ policy in schools that aims to provide for the daily testing of close contacts of confirmed cases instead of self-isolation.

Meanwhile, the future viability of general health scheme Gesy was discussed on Thursday in a meeting chaired by President Nicos Anastasiades, attended by several stakeholders including health officials, the auditor-general and the attorney-general.

In other news, Cyprus registered the third lowest decrease in passenger flights among European Union member states in December, according to new data published by Eurostat.

All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, the cabinet on Wednesday decided to introduce a ‘test to stay’ at schools, with the aim of keeping them operational and detecting positive cases in a timely manner. Under the rule, close contacts of confirmed cases that have no history of vaccination, instead of having to isolate, will undergo a daily rapid test for a period of five days.

In today’s episode, Paphos residents have spoken of a “nightmare earthquake” yesterday after one of the strongest quakes recorded in Cyprus rattled the island in the early morning. In other news, the United States has confirmed media reports of its misgivings over the EastMed subsea natural gas pipeline, in an apparent U-turn over a project supported by the former Trump administration, and Ioannis Kasoulides was sworn in as foreign minister yesterday, returning to active service nearly four years after deciding to leave public office.

All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Disy leader Averof Neophytou yesterday submitted his candidacy as party nominee for the 2023 presidential elections, asserting confidently that his party will win and retain power for five more years.

In today’s episode, Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides has announced his resignation, expressing an interest in running for president in 2023. In other news, dozens of people gathered outside the Archbishopric in Nicosia on Sunday to protest the ultimatum given to unvaccinated priests to get jabbed or be punished, and a 25-year-old man has been arrested and charged with circulating a forged SafePass document. All these stories and more on your Daily News Briefing, brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode and following expanded Covid measures that came into effect yesterday, President Nicos Anastasiades said the aim had been not to impose a new lockdown.

All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today’s episode, final decisions over tightening measures against coronavirus will be taken by the Council of Ministers this morning after President Nicos Anastasiades yesterday met the advisory team.

In other news, it is believed that stray dogs account for more than 15 per cent of Moufflon deaths on the island.

All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, Covid-19 continues to plague the island as 5,024 tested positive to the virus on Monday and two men aged 84 and 62 died. Hospitalisations have risen to 201, 75 of whom are in serious condition

In today's episode, within the next few days 100 per cent of Covid-19 cases on the island are expected to be due to the Omicron variant, health minister Michalis Hadjipantelas said on Sunday. Elsewhere, a total of 640 children received the vaccine as one centre at the State Fair in Nicosia was open only to them in the weekend. Finally, investigations are ongoing after the Big Potato erected at the entrance to the village of Xylophagou was chopped down at the start of the new year. All this and more in the Cyprus Beat briefing brought to you by the Cyprus Mail.

In today's episode, coronavirus hit a new all-time record on Thursday with 3,851 people testing positive continuing the upward trend that began on Monday.