No coronavirus protocol violations were noted among 873 checks carried out by police between Friday and 7am Saturday morning.

Police checked 139 people in Nicosia, 373 in Limassol, 41 in Larnaca, 150 in Paphos, 138 in Famagusta and 32 in Morphou, with no fines issued.

The checks were carried out after the cabinet’s decision to reinstate face masks in indoor spaces went into force.

The measure was brought back as a precaution after experts warned that the alarming rise in positive Covid cases recently may translate into hospitalisations.

Meanwhile, state health services organisation Okypy announced that it will be opening up more beds at its hospitals for coronavirus patients.

Nicosia, Limassol and Famagusta hospitals will allocate more beds for Covid patients, while the Covid ward at Paphos hospital will reopen.

In addition, the Covid ward at Larnaca hospital will close, with some staff members moved to Famagusta hospital, which sparked a strike at Larnaca hoapital.

Spokesman Charalambos Charilaou told Cybc that at the moment 102 people are being treated in hospitals, and that 150 beds are needed.

He also pointed out that visits to outpatient clinics have increased during this period.