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01-09-2020 11:45 |
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Epidemiological
risk assessment of countries concerning COVID-19, dated 01/09/2020 |
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The epidemiological picture of various countries with regard to the COVID-19 disease has been re-evaluated by the Epidemiological Monitoring and Control of Infectious Diseases Unit of the Medical Services and the Public Health Services. The evaluation was based on the epidemiological indicators of the countries, such as: the effective reproduction number R(t) for SARS-CoV-2, the number of new diagnoses, the number of laboratory tests, the mortality rate per 100,000 inhabitants, the estimated prevalence and the impact and classification by the World Health Organization (WHO), as these indicators appear on valid databases. The following categorization of
countries, based on the epidemiological risk assessment, is extremely dynamic
and may be modified at any moment as the pandemic evolves and the epidemiological
data changes. For this reason, new data will be announced and the list of
countries will be updated frequently. It should be noted that in
categorizing countries, the recommendation of the European Council, dated 30
June, on the gradual and coordinated lifting of travel restrictions to the
European Union, has been taken into consideration. Category A – Low-risk countries at
current stage • European Union Member States:
1) Germany, 2) Estonia, 3) Latvia, 4) Lithuania, 5) Finland • Schengen Area Members:
1) Norway • Third Countries:
1) Georgia, 2) Canada, 3) New Zealand, 4) South Korea, 5) Thailand Included in this category are
countries with an effective reproduction (Rt) number lower than 1 or/and
small number of new diagnoses (<1/100,000 inhabitants per day) or/and
small or very small COVID-19 mortality (<5-10/100,000 inhabitants) or/and
classification of sporadic cases or clusters of cases according to the WHO
or/and at least satisfactory laboratory testing (>3000 tests/100,000 inhabitants). It should be noted that passengers coming from Category A
countries are
not required to
present a laboratory COVID-19 test certificate or go into self-isolation. Category B - Countries with
possibly low risk but greater uncertainty compared to Category A • European Union Member States:
1) Austria, 2) Belgium, 3) Denmark, 4) Greece, 5) Ireland, 6) Italy, 7)
Hungary, 8) Poland, 9) Portugal, 10) Sweden, 11) Slovakia, 12) Slovenia, 13)
Czech Republic • United Kingdom • Schengen Area Members:
1) Switzerland, 2) Iceland, 3) Lichtenstein • Small States:
1) Vatican City, 2) San Marino • Third Countries: 1)
Uruguay, 2) China, 3) Japan, 4) Australia Included in this category are
countries with an effective reproduction (Rt) number greater than 1 or/and
number of new diagnoses <1/100,000 inhabitants per day or/and increased
COVID-19 mortality (>10/100,000 inhabitants) or/and limited laboratory
testing (<2000 tests/100,000 inhabitants) or lack of WHO classification. It should be noted that passengers coming from Category B
countries are required to undergo a laboratory test within 72 hours prior
to departure and to possess a Certificate showing negative PCR
examination for the virus. It is also clarified that
passengers from Category B countries, falling into the following categories, may undergo the molecular
examination upon arrival in the Republic: a) Cypriot citizens and their
family members (their alien spouses, underage children and parents), b) all those legally residing
in the Republic, c) persons entitled to under
the Vienna Convention, d) persons, irrespective of
nationality, whose countries of residence do not provide a laboratory testing
service (public or private) to those wishing to travel to the Republic of
Cyprus according to a relevant announcement. It should be noted that the examination cost will be borne
by those persons themselves and in addition, such persons should remain in
self-isolation at home until the examination result is issued. Category C – High-risk countries
compared to categories A and B • European Union Member States:
1) Bulgaria, 2) France, 3) Croatia, 4) Luxemburg, 5) Romania, 6) Spain, 7)
Malta, 8) Netherlands • Small States:
1) Andorra, 2) Monaco • Third Countries: 1) Algeria, 2) Serbia, 3) Morocco, 4) Montenegro, 5) Rwanda, 6) Tunisia, 7) Russia, 8) Ukraine, 9) Faroe Islands, 10) Egypt, 11) United Arab Emirates, 12) Israel, 13) Lebanon, 14) Qatar, 15) Bahrein, 16) Saudi Arabia All countries not included in
categories A or B are placed in this category. Some of the countries which
are of high risk according to their epidemiological picture, are mentioned
above. In accordance with the
Infectious Diseases Decree (No.30) of 2020, entry into the Republic from Category C countries shall
be allowed only for specific categories of citizens who have
the possibility to choose whether to undergo a diagnostic test for COVID19
upon their arrival in Cyprus or have with them a negative RT-PCR test
certificate for COVID-19, undertaken within 72 hours prior to departure. It must be noted that such persons
shall have to remain in a state of self-isolation for 14 days.
Relevant sanitary instructions are available at the following link: https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/en/info.html
. It is also noted that in
accordance with the Decree by the Minister of Health N. 37, dated 12 August
2020, citizens arriving from category C countries are obliged to undergo a molecular
examination for COVID-19, 48 hours prior to the termination of their 14-day
self-isolation, at their own expense. The test results
should be sent to the following email address: monada@mphs.moh.gov.cy
. It is understood that the
self-isolation will come to an end on the 14th day provided that
the outcome of the repeat test comes out negative. It must be stressed that all
passengers, regardless of country category, shall be obliged to file an
application for the CyprusFlightPass within 24 hours prior to their
departure flight. Moreover, in order to ensure public health
and the monitoring of the epidemiological picture, a sample molecular
laboratory testing of passengers on selected arriving flights will be carried
out. It is noted that the above
categorization of countries shall
take effect on 5 September 2020. ( MK/DC ) |
