NICOSIA – As Greece has, Cyprus now is looking at more restrictive measures for the unvaccinated who are spreading infections of COVID-19 and slowing a retreat from the pandemic.

Cyprus Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas met President Nicos Anastasiades to prepare the measures that will limit where the unvaccinated can go in an apparent attempt to persuade anti-vaxxers to get the shots.

Both the health minister and Anastasiades have warned they will restrict the unvaccinated to prevent a national lockdown, said The Financial Mirror, although shots aren’t mandatory on the island.

“In order to avoid a total lockdown, some people need to be excluded, no matter how much we respect their opinions,” Anastasiades said, with the unvaccinated locked out of sporting events, theaters, restaurants and other public spaces.

The government is also considering banning school Christmas gatherings and celebrations across Cyprus, the site said, and additional measures will be considered if the situation gets worse, it was said.

Epidemiologists have recommended self-tests, limiting the number of people at gatherings, working from home, carrying out targeted tests on the vaccinated and making booster shots a requirement is also reportedly being mulled.

Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou said the obligatory use of masks could be introduced at primary schools as worry has risen again about the number of cases that has passed 130,100 and 590 deaths on the divided island.