Larnaca police last night booked ten people found attending a Good Thursday church service, in violation of the lockdown and despite repeated calls from authorities as well as the Archbishop to stay home.
Decrees enacted to prevent the spread of coronavirus specifically prohibit the faithful from attending church services.
Only yesterday evening President Nicos Anastasiades appealed to everyone to comply with the decrees.
“Do not listen to the dissidents who identify faith in God with the choice of death. Listen to the prudent voices of the Ecumenical Patriarch and of the Head of the Church of Cyprus. Today, our faith is not in danger; the health of the faithful is,” he said in a televised address.
The ten members of the congregation were among a total of 68 people fined for breaking the stay at home decree overnight.
Overall police carried out 5233 checks in all the districts from 6 pm on Thursday to 6 am on Friday.
Police have warned they plan to step up checks over the Easter weekend.
And Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou has issued a decree which prohibits any events or gatherings near churches, as well as any gatherings at places of worship.
