Cyprus will introduce a new lockdown to quell rising Covid-19 infections from Jan 10, Reuters quoted its health minister as saying on Friday, the country’s second since the start of the pandemic.

Retail businesses such as hairdressers, beauty parlours and large department stores will shut until Jan 31, Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou told a news conference.

People will be allowed to leave home just twice a day for specific reasons such as buying groceries or medicines and taking exercise, while a current curfew banning movement from 9pm to 5am daily will remain in force.

Distance learning will be re-introduced in schools, currently shut for the Christmas and New Year holidays. Kindergartens will remain open, he said.