More people stranded in Cyprus are going home on Monday as the coronavirus pandemic tightens its grip worldwide.

A decree has been in place from Saturday 0300 hours local time (0100 GMT) prohibiting flights to land in Cyprus airports for 14 days.

Cargo carrying aircraft are exempt, as well as flights arriving empty to transport foreign nationals back home, or flights which land for humanitarian or emergency reasons.

A flight is scheduled to leave for Moscow on Monday from Larnaca carrying Russian nationals. The Ural Airlines charter flight is expected to depart around 1400 local time for Moscow, sources told CNA.

Three flights left from Glafkos Clerides International Airport in Larnaca on Sunday, repatriating 332 people to Moscow and Frankfurt. Another charter flight with 49 people departed on Sunday from Paphos International Airport for Gatwick.

On Saturday, a further 711 people left on seven flight from Larnaca, with mainly tourists wanting to return home.