|
The Ministry of Transport,
Communications and Works announces that the Council of Ministers has today
made the following modifications concerning the Action Plan for the gradual
resumption of flights and the re-opening of airports, which will be
implemented as of 1st March 2021. The amendments are as follows:
1. For the EU countries and the
European Economic Area countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) including
Switzerland, there is no amendment. That is, from the 1st of March
2021, the categorization of countries of the European Centre for Disease
Prevention and Control (ECDC) will be followed; that is the green, orange or red
categories.
2. For March, the evaluation of
third countries (United Kingdom, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Lebanon, UAE,
Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Belarus) as well as of the European Council
Recommendation list of third countries, will be carried out by the Ministry
of Health which will classify them as
green, orange, red and grey. Those of the above countries
classified as grey
will need a special permit and in addition, passengers will have to present a
laboratory PCR test, within 72 hours prior to departure. In this category,
self-isolation/quarantine measures shall apply, in accordance with the instructions
of the Ministry of Health.
3. From 1st to 31st March 2021,
persons arriving from any of the above countries, which have been classified
in the green category,
will undergo a PCR laboratory test, the cost of which will be covered by the
Republic of Cyprus.
4. It is noted that, for March,
all passengers, regardless of category, arriving in Cyprus should have
undergone a PCR laboratory test.
5. From 1st April 2021, third
countries will be evaluated and classified according to the green, orange or
red categories, based on the ECDC criteria. In the third countries’ category,
in addition to the United Kingdom, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Lebanon, the
United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Belarus, the following
shall be added, as of 1 April 2021: Serbia, Qatar, Bahrain, United States,
Armenia and Georgia.
6. Countries not included in
the above countries, will be classified in special permit category – Grey.
7. The Ministry of Health will
announce, on a weekly basis, the categorization of countries.
8. In addition, the Council of
Ministers decided to extend until 31st March 2021, the measure of
7-day stay in places to be designated by the Republic of Cyprus for those
arriving from the United Kingdom, in accordance with the preconditions already
in force.
9. It is recalled that the
following applies to each category:
• Category Green: In this
category, all passengers, upon arrival in Cyprus from the 1st to the 31st of
March 2021, will undergo a laboratory PCR test, the cost of which will be
covered by the Republic of Cyprus. From 1st April 2021, there will
be no restrictions – a practice that is already in force.
• Category Orange: In this
category, the presentation of a negative laboratory analysis of PCR test
within 72 hours prior to departure is required, as is the case today.
• Category Red: In this
category a double laboratory testing is required; that is, a negative
laboratory PCR test within 72 hours prior to departure and another laboratory
PCR test upon arrival in Cyprus. In this category, no
self-isolation/quarantine measures apply. It should be noted that Cypriot
citizens and legal residents of the Republic can choose to undergo a
laboratory testing only upon arrival in Cyprus. In this case, they should
remain in compulsory self-isolation, in accordance with the relevant
instructions of the Ministry of Health, unless they present an additional
negative PCR laboratory test within 72 hours prior to departure.
• Category Grey – special permit.
In this particular category, the procedure for obtaining a special entry
permit into the Republic, shall be implemented for citizens of third
countries (exempt from the requirement of a special permit are Cypriot
citizens, persons lawfully residing in the Republic of Cyprus and European
citizens). In this category, persons arriving in the Republic shall remain in
compulsory self-isolation, in accordance with the relevant instructions of
the Ministry of Health.
• In all categories, laboratory
sampling tests will be carried out in accordance with the instructions of the
Ministry of Health.
(EK/MPO)
|
