Coronavirus: outrage over nature trail, mountain ban (Updated)

The decision to ban access to nature trails, the forests and mountains as part of measures to restrict the spread of coronavirus is illogical and restricts human rights, the Green party and environmental organisations said on Thursday.

Following overcrowding in Troodos square over the weekends with people from various districts visiting the snow, the health ministry decided to ban all access to nature trails and forests this week.

“The unjustified visit of people and the overcrowding in Troodos square was not due and is not connected with the physical exercise in nature trails,” environmental NGOs said in a joint statement on Thursday, where they demanded the health ministry to reconsider its “illogical, unfounded and unfair” decision.

The decision was part of the government’s announcement of relaxation measures on Wednesday, following a three-week lockdown. In the case of nature trails, the measure was in fact a tightening measure.

The gradual lifting of the measures “proves once again the ambiguities and contradictions that exist between the new measures, resulting in unnecessary problems,” the Green party said.

“It does not make sense for nature trails to be closed for physical exercise” the Greens explained, while other places “at increased risk of contamination” will remain open.

In that way, the government restricts “human rights by targeting specific areas such as sport and culture,” the party added.

Starting Monday, beauty and hair salons will reopen, while retail stores and shopping malls will open on February 8. Places of worship will also be allowed to operate with a maximum of 50 people, the ministry said.

In their statement, the Cyprus’ ecological movement, BirdLife, Terra Cypria and Friends of the Earth demanded “access to nature for all without exception” or “at least for measures that make sense”.

While the health ministry confirmed to the Cyprus Mail that people will not be allowed to visit forests nor the mountains for physical exercise, swimming or exercising by the sea is still allowed as well as the movement of Nicosia residents for that purpose. Residents of seaside districts are still not allowed to visit different seaside districts.

Hunters will be allowed in the countryside if they carry the relevant licences. Movement permits to and from agricultural plots issued for January will also remain valid until the termination of the restrictive measures, the ministry clarified.

Paradoxically, access to parks for exercising is still allowed, according to the health ministry. The measure only applied to parks that belong in the same district where people have a permanent residence.

Therefore, Limassol residents may visit the national forest park in Troodos for exercise, abiding by the three-hour time limit after they send a message to 8998.

NGOs noted the “ban on nature access” will lead to overcrowding in the parks, “increasing thus the risk of virus infection”.

“Traffic on nature trails is low and cannot be compared with the numbers we already see in urban parks,” they added.

Uproar on social media followed the nature trail ban.

A Twitter user asked, “they are cutting off our oxygen now?” while another woman wrote on Facebook “malls are opening but exercising stops in nature trails.”

“We disagree Mr Minister with this revengeful behaviour of yours,” another man tweeted and demanded for the withdrawal of the measure.

Others suggested that closing only Troodos during the weekends would be enough.

Commenting on the decision, a source within the ministry said “unfortunately, the disobedience of a small portion of people affects others who behave properly and with discipline,” referring to people who did not abide by social distancing measures in Troodos square.

Meanwhile epidemiologists from the advisory team of the health ministry had told the media the measure was not their recommendation.