Justice Minister George Savvides said on Friday that he has instructed police to step up patrols on intercity roads throughout the long Easter weekend.
We do not go to our holiday homes, but stay home to celebrate Easter, he also wrote on Twitter.
Έχω δώσει ρητές οδηγίες στην Αστυνομία για αυξημένα περίπολα στους υπεραστικούς δρόμους, σε όλη την εορταστική περίοδο. Δεν πάμε στα εξοχικά. Προσευχόμαστε και γιορτάζουμε τα Πάθη και την Ανάσταση στα σπίτια μας.
Καλή δύναμη και υπομονή.
Θα τα καταφέρουμε! pic.twitter.com/1B9djh4EB9— George L. Savvides (@SavvidesGL) April 17, 2020
Savvides is the latest public official to drive in the message that everyone must stick to the lockdown measures, despite recent encouraging news from the scientific team on the coronavirus situation and the Easter holiday.
Police have warned they will use drones and helicopters to ensure compliance with the stay at home decrees.
And in his Easter address yesterday, President Nicos Anastasiades insisted people adhere to the restrictions as any let up now could have disastrous results.
“What seems to be under control today may easily, if we ignore the risk, become uncontrollable the next day,” he warned.
Authorities see the Easter period, where Cypriots would normally flock to church and hold large family gatherings as critical to the lockdown effort
