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Statements by the Transport
Minister
The Council of Ministers today
approved the modified Action Plan for the gradual resumption of flights and
the reopening of airports.
Speaking after the meeting of
the Council of Ministers, the Minister of Transport, Communications and
Works, Mr Yiannis Karousos made the following statement:
“The Inter-ministerial
Committee set up by decision of the Council of Ministers on 17 May 2020 under
my chairmanship with the participation of the Foreign, Finance and Health
Ministers and the Deputy Minister of Tourism, met on 3 November 2020 in the
presence of the Interior Minister, in order to examine the improvement of the
current Action Plan for the gradual resumption of flights and the reopening of
airports.
The modified plan, which had
been prepared by the Inter-ministerial Committee and was today approved by
the Council of Ministers, provides, inter alia, for the following:
(1) As regards the
categorisation of countries, the Ministry of Health shall rely on the weekly
report/assessment of the European Centre for Prevention and Control of
Diseases (ECDC). For states not assessed by the ECDC, the assessment will be
carried out by the Ministry of Health.
(2) The classification of
states will be replaced so as to comply with the categorisation carried out
by the European Centre for Prevention and Control of Diseases (ECDC). The
classification of countries into Categories shall be modified as follows:
i. Category A is replaced by
the Green Category,
without any restrictions in force, as is the case today.
ii. Category B is replaced
by the Orange Category,
in which the presentation of a negative PCR laboratory testing is required
within 72 hours before departure, as is the case today.
iii. Category C is
replaced by the Red Category, in which a double laboratory testing is required, that is, a
negative PCR examination within 72 hours prior to departure and yet another
laboratory PCR testing upon arrival in Cyprus. No self-isolation/quarantine
measures are valid in this category.
iv. Special Permit Category
(Grey), in which
passengers should present a laboratory PCR test within 72 hours prior to
departure. In this category, measures of self-isolation/quarantine shall
apply in line with the instructions by the Health Minister.
(3) Classified in the Green,
Orange and Red categories are the following countries:
i. European Union Countries
ii. Countries of the European
Economic Area, 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, UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Belarus).
(4) Any country not included in
the above shall be classified in the Grey – special permit category. In this
specific category, the procedure for obtaining a special entry permit to the
Republic shall be implemented for third country nationals (exempt from the
requirement to obtain a special permit are Cypriot citizens, persons lawfully
residing in the Republic of Cyprus, and European citizens).
(5) The passengers below may
choose to undergo a laboratory examination upon their arrival in the Republic
of Cyprus:
- Cypriot
citizens and members of their family (including their foreign spouses
and underage children).
- Persons
lawfully residing in Cyprus.
- Persons
entitled to enter the Republic in accordance with the Vienna Convention.
In this case, the passengers of
the Red Category and Special Permit Category who are entitled to a laboratory
examination upon arrival, shall remain, according to the instructions of the
Health Ministry, in compulsory self-isolation, unless they present a negative
PCR laboratory test within 72 hours before departure.
(6) The Ministry of Health
shall continue random checks in passengers arriving in Cyprus, based on the
epidemiological criteria of the countries in which the flights to the
Republic of Cyprus originate.
(7) Included in the modified
Action Plan is a provision for vaccinated persons, as they will be exempt
from carrying out a laboratory examination.
(8) The modified Action Plan
shall come into force on 1st
March 2021.
(9) Until the Action Plan takes
affect a transitional stage shall apply with the 15th of January
2021 as the starting date, during which all countries below may be classified
in one of the four categories, i.e. Green, Orange, Red, Grey-Special Permit.
a. European Union member states
b. Countries of the European
Economic Area including the United Kingdom and Switzerland
c. Countries included in the
list of third countries of the European Council
d. Third countries (Russia,
Ukraine, Israel, Lebanon, UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Belarus).
(10) During the transitional
stage, the assessment of all countries shall be undertaken by the Ministry of
Health in the same manner being implemented today.
In tandem with the modification
of the Action Plan, the Council of Ministers has approved the extension for
another six months of the provisional Incentives Scheme for airline
companies. This is a Scheme which has received favourable comments from the
airline companies and was described at the European Union level as a Best
Practice Scheme. According to this Scheme, a sum would be paid to the airline
per passenger, as incentive, depending on the seat occupancy from 41% to 70%.
The modified Action Plan which
has been prepared and approved by the Council of Minister takes into account the
current epidemiological conditions and is expected to further enhance the
interest of airline companies in carrying out additional flights to Cyprus,
improving connectivity and increasing passenger traffic. The Ministers of
Foreign Affairs, Transport, Communications and Works and the Deputy Minister
of Tourism shall address a joint letter to all air-transport and tourism
stakeholders informing them of the changes in the modified Action Plan.”
(MG/ΙΙ)
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