Cyprus to cover the holiday costs of tourists who tests positive

Cyprus has pledged to cover the holiday costs of anyone who tests positive for the virus after travelling there.

In a letter made public on Wednesday, the government said it would pay for accommodation, medicine and food for patients and their families.

Tourists “will only need to bear the cost of their airport transfer and repatriation flight”.

It is part of a package of measures aimed at drawing visitors back to the island, which has reported few cases.

Officials also said a 100-bed hospital would be set aside specifically for tourists who test positive, as well as several so-called “quarantine hotels” for the patients’ families.

Cyprus plans to reopen its airports on 9 June to a number of countries that are seen to be low risk, including Germany, Greece, Israel and Malta.

According to Johns Hopkins University data, the country has confirmed 939 infections and 17 deaths.

Tourism accounted for about 15% of the country’s GDP last year, and so the government is straining to bring back travellers as soon as possible.

Read more via BBC