Parents protest over masks

Union of United Parents and the teachers branch of the Cyprus Equality Union on Wednesday morning staged a protest outside the presidential palace against mask mandates and Covid testing at schools as the cabinet was discussing the new coronavirus roadmap for autumn and winter.

The cabinet’s decision to drop the mask mandate and to not impose mandatory self-tests at schools was announced later in the day.

“Based on a poll conducted by us it was found that from the 642 parents asked, 93 per cent said that they do not agree at all with the health ministry’s recent announcement regarding the possible new measures at schools for the coming year,” a protestor said from a megaphone.

Other protestors held placards reading “freedom is about choice,” “legalise homeschooling” and “God wins!”

Another placard bearing a caricature of Bill Gates read “I will end world hunger by killing all the hungry people.”