Cyprus will cover the costs of tourists who fall ill with Covid

Cyprus has promised to cover the holiday costs of tourists who fall ill with Covid-19 on the island.

In the latest move to revive Europe’s stricken tourism industry, authorities have said they will pay for the accommodation, food and medicine used by patients and their families whenever a tourist tests positive for the virus.

Holidaymakers would only be required to pay for their flight home and their transfer to the airport.

The offer came as Cyprus prepares to open its borders to holidaymakers from “safe” destinations such as Germany and Greece from 9 June.

A hospital will also be set aside for tourists who contract the virus, while several “quarantine hotels” will be earmarked for their families.

Cyprus has largely escaped the worst of the virus with only 17 deaths and just under 1,000 confirmed infections, according to Johns Hopkins University in the US.

Deputy tourism minister Savvas Perdios has reportedly suggested that British holidaymakers could be permitted into Cyprus from July.

Elsewhere in Europe, Holland’s prime minister Mark Rutte said his government hoped to say more next week about where its citizens will be allowed to holiday abroad this summer.

Finland has seen no evidence of the coronavirus spreading faster since schools started to reopen in the middle of May, the country’s top health official Mika Salminen said today.

Meanwhile, France is to launch a voluntary StopCovid track-and-trace app this weekend after legislators approved the move.

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