Filenews 3 December 2020
Changes in the way countries are categorised due to the coronavirus include the amended action plan for the gradual resumption of flights and the reopening of Cyprus airports.
In statements after the end of the Cabinet, Transport Minister Giannis Karousos noted that the categorization of countries by the Ministry of Health would be based on the ECDC's weekly data report on coronavirus.
Specific:
The Council of Ministers today adopted the amended Action Plan for the gradual resumption of flights and the reopening of airports. The Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Mr. Giannis Karousos, at the end of the Cabinet meeting, made the following statement:
"The Interministerial Committee set up by a Decision of the Council of Ministers on 17 May 2020 chaired and attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Health and the Deputy Minister of Tourism met on 3 November 2020, in the presence of the Minister of the Interior, with the aim of examining the improvement of the existing Action Plan for the gradual resumption of flights and the reopening of airports.
The amended draft, which was prepared by the Interministerial Committee and approved today by the Council of Ministers, provides, inter alia, for the following:
(1) For the categorization of countries, the Ministry of Health will be based on the weekly report/evaluation of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). For states that are not evaluated by the ECDC, this assessment will be carried out by the Ministry of Health.
(2) Replacing the Classification Categories of States so that they are identical to the categorization carried out by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The Classification Categories of States are amended as follows:
i. Category A is replaced by Category Green, in which there will be no restriction, a practice that is still in force today.
ii. Category B is replaced by Category Orange, which will require the presentation of a negative PCR laboratory analysis within 72 hours prior to departure, a practice that is still in force today.
iii. Category C is replaced by Category Red, which will require double laboratory analysis, i.e. negative PCR laboratory analysis within 72 hours prior to departure and another PCR laboratory analysis upon arrival in Cyprus. Self-restriction/quarantine measures do not apply in this category.
iv. Special License Category (Grey) in which passengers must provide a PCR laboratory analysis within 72 hours prior to departure. In this category, self-restriction/quarantine measures will apply which will also be in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Health.
(3) The following countries will be classified in categories Green, Orange and Red:
i. European Union countries
ii. European Economic Area countries including the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
iii. Countries included in the list of third countries of the European Council
iv. Third countries (Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Lebanon, THE UNITED KINGDOM, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Belarus)
(4) Those States not included above will be classified in the category Grey – special permit. This category will also follow the procedure for granting a special permit to enter the Republic for third-country citizens (Cypriot citizens, legal residents in the Republic of Cyprus and European citizens are excluded from the special permit).
(5) The following passengers will have the option to carry out a laboratory check upon arrival in the Republic of Cyprus:
- Cypriot citizens and members of their families (including their foreign spouses and minor children).
- Legal persons residing in the Republic.
- Persons entitled to enter the Republic in accordance with the Vienna Convention.
In this case, the beneficiaries of laboratory testing on arrival passengers of the Red Category and the Special License Category will remain, in accordance with the relevant instructions of the Ministry of Health, in a mandatory self-limit regime unless they provide laboratory analysis with negative PCR within 72 hours prior to departure.
(6)The Ministry of Health will continue the random checks on passengers arriving in Cyprus, taking into account the epidemiological criteria of the countries from which flights to the Republic of Cyprus will take place.
(7) The amended Action Plan also provides for people who will be vaccinated as they will be excluded from laboratory analyses.
(8) The amended Action Plan will enter into force on 1 March 2021.
(9) Until the Action Plan enters into force there will be a transitional phase starting on 15 January 2021 in which all the following countries can be classified into one of the 4 categories, namely Green, Orange, Red or Grey – Special License.
a. European Union countries
b. European Economic Area countries including the United Kingdom and Switzerland
c. Countries included in the list of the recommendation of third countries of the European Council
d. Third countries (Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Lebanon, THE UNITED KINGDOM, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Belarus)
(10) During the transitional phase, the evaluation of all countries will be carried out by the Ministry of Health in the way it is currently followed.
At the same time as amending the Action Plan, the Council of Ministers also approved the extension for a further 6 months of the Interim Incentive Plan to airlines. This is a project which received positive feedback from the airlines and was described at European Union level as a Best Practice Project. This Plan will pay, as an incentive to airlines, an amount per passenger resulting from aircraft occupancy of 41%-70%.
The amended Action Plan prepared and approved by the Council of Ministers takes into account existing epidemiological conditions and is expected to further enhance the interest of airlines in carrying out additional flights to Cyprus, improve connectivity and increase passenger traffic. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Transport, Communications and Works and the State Secretary for Tourism will send a joint letter to all air transport and tourism bodies to inform them of the changes to the amended Action Plan."
Source: eyenews
Note - the United Kingdom is included in two categories pending the outcome of the Brexit talks and whether there is a deal or no deal.
