Cyprus bars, restaurants reopen indoor seating

Restaurants and bars filled up again in Cyprus as people took full advantage of Tuesday's lifting of a ban on indoor seating after weeks of tough COVID-19 restrictions.

The lifting of the ban boded well for restaurants as a chilly breeze kept many patrons seated indoors in establishments like the Baristro Bar and Restaurant in a tony section of the capital's Aglandjia suburb, a stone's throw away from the country's state university.

"After the public's initial numbness passes and they come to understand that it's fine to go out, I think things will start moving ahead normally, people are starting to come and that's positive," said Baristro owner Nicolas Symeonides.

"The restrictions have affected some more than others, it's a new season and I hope that we don't have any new restrictions come October," he added.

Many bars and restaurants have been effectively shut for eight months with the government offering financial assistance on staff salaries to keep establishments from folding.

Bar and restaurant patrons still need to present a so-called 'SafePass' - proof that they've either been vaccinated, have recovered from COVID-19 or have been tested for the virus in the last 72 hours.

Cyprus' Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou said Tuesday the country has one of the lowest COVID-19 infection rates among all EU states. Health officials partly credit the country's ramped up vaccination program for the steep drop in infections.

As of Tuesday, places of worship, cinemas and theaters can operate at 50% capacity for 'SafePass' carrying patrons.

The long-awaited reopening of nightclubs and the scrapping of a nighttime curfew are set for June 10 - key steps for luring back holidaymakers in the country where tourism directly accounts for 13% of its gross domestic product.

Deputy Minister for Tourism Savvas Perdios is currently in the U.K. - Cyprus' main tourism market - to drum up interest among tour operators.