Brit Army Bases Quarantining All New Arrivals From UK

Story By: Alex Cope, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash

The UK Armed Forces based in Cyprus have pledged to quarantine all new arrivals into the country from the UK after two members of the forces tested positive on the island.

Cyprus has just 40 cases so far with no deaths compared to over 1,500 infections in the UK and over 50 deaths.

British High Commissioner Stephen Lillie met with Cyprus’ Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Tasos Tzonis after the country brought in strict new measures on Sunday (15th March).

The measures will see only pharmacies, food shops, open markets, bakeries, petrol stations, and kiosks remaining open but there will be a limit on the number of customers allowed inside at a time.

Schools in Cyprus have shut until 10th April while hotels have suspended their operation until 30th April.

A statement said: “It was stressed to the British High Commissioner that the Republic of Cyprus expects the British bases administration will implement for British personnel, the same policy and measures announced by the government in strict compliance with the protocols that the ministry of health has put in place.”

And it continued: “We want to reassure everyone that we have a robust plan to protect our people. Every UK national arriving from the UK into the Bases will self-isolate at home for 14 days from arrival”.

The incident came after two members of the UK Armed Forces who have not been named in reports but are a man and a woman, had reportedly flown from the UK to Paphos International Airport, a joint civil-military public airport located southeast of the city of Paphos in Cyprus, before heading to RAF Akrotiri where they are permanently based.

They had developed symptoms of the virus and self-isolated before testing positive for COVID-19.

Reports state they remain in self-isolation at the base and have mild symptoms. British Forces Cyprus (BFC) said they have activated its plant to trace those who had contact with the pair.

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