The number of cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, found in the National Guard is 12, according to the spokesman of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Lieutenant Colonel Christos Pieris. 

In a statement on the show “Alpha Kalimera”, Christos Pieris said that the 12 cases concern only army professionals and do not involve conscripts. 

Asked about the measures taken by the armed forces, the spokesman of MoD said that in addition to increased and meticulous cleaning in public areas, such as restaurants and sanitary facilities, the instructions and decrees of the Ministry of Health are also being followed. 

More specifically, Mr. Pieris explained that a small number of soldiers goes to the restaurants while the allowed distances are maintained. In addition, if there are many units in a camp, visiting restaurants is done sequentially. 

Also half of the soldiers live now in their rooms compare to the numbers before the pandemic. According to Mr. Pieris, the conscripts as well as the rest of a unit’s personnel have been divided into two groups in order to work on a weekly rotating basis. This way one group can cover the other in the event of a coronavirus case. 

Mr Pieris also said that tests have been performed on all the coronavirus cases contacts, a large percentage of which are negative to the virus. In addition, as announced by the President of the Republic on Wednesday April 8, the National Guard members will be among the 20,000 tests that will be performed to identify the dispersion of COVID-19.

Regarding the dismissal of the conscripts serving in the armed forces, but also the classification of the new recruits, Mr. Pieris said that nothing has changed and that the committee set up by the National Guard General Staff and the MoD is considering changing certain procedures for avoiding overcrowding during the recruitment period. 

In any case, this will depend on the general situation in Cyprus at that time.