22-03-2021 09:19 |
Epidemiological
risk assessment of countries concerning COVID-19, dated 22/3/2021 |
Following a decision of the Council of Ministers, on 18 February
2021, regarding the Action Plan for the gradual resumption of flights and the
re-opening of airports, the Epidemiological Monitoring Unit of the Ministry
of Health has made a re-evaluation of the epidemiological situation in
various countries as regards COVID-19. The categorization for the countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) as well as Switzerland in the Green, Orange or Red Categories, is based upon that of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). With regard to third countries
(United Kingdom, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates,
Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Belarus) as well as those countries included in
the updated list of the European Council Recommendation
2021/89 for the gradual lifting of temporary restrictions for non-essential
travel within the EU, these are evaluated epidemiologically by the Ministry
of Health and are categorized into Green, Orange, Red and Grey Categories. 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 would be announced
and the list of countries updated frequently. Green Category countries –
Low risk countries at current stage
It is noted that passengers coming from the Green
Category countries are not required to hold a COVID-19 test
certificate or self-isolate. It is clarified that during the
period of 1-31 March
2021, all passengers from countries of the Green Category will undergo a PCR laboratory test
upon their arrival in Cyprus, the cost of which will be
covered by the Republic of Cyprus. As of 1 April 2021, no restriction will be in place. Orange Category countries -
Countries with possibly low risk but greater uncertainty compared to the
Green Category
It is noted that passengers
coming from Orange Category countries shall be required to undergo a PCR laboratory test within
72 hours prior to departure and to possess a certificate showing a
negative PCR result. It is also clarified that
passengers from Orange Category countries, falling into the following
categories, may
undergo the molecular examination upon arrival in the Republic:
It is noted that the examination cost will be borne by
themselves and in addition, such persons shall remain in self-isolation until
the test result is issued. Red Category countries –
Increased risk countries compared to the Green and Orange Categories:
It is noted that passengers
coming from Red Category countries shall be required to: a) undergo a PCR laboratory
test within 72 hours prior to departure proving a negative PCR
result and
b) undergo a laboratory test upon their arrival in the Republic of Cyprus. The examination cost will be borne by
themselves and in addition, such persons should remain in self-isolation
until the test result is issued. The following categories of
passengers may enter the Republic of Cyprus from Red Category countries,
after having undergone, at their own expense, a laboratory test only upon
their arrival in the Republic of Cyprus:
In such case, persons falling
within the categories 1-3 above must remain
in mandatory
self-isolation for 72 hours since arrival and after the end of the 72 hours they
must undergo another PCR test, at their own expense. If the
repeat test is negative, they can then terminate their isolation. The test
result must be sent to the following email address: monada@mphs.moh.gov.cy. Grey Category countries (Special Permission):
For the Grey Category (Special
Permission) countries, entry into the Republic of Cyprus is only allowed for the
following categories of passengers:
It is noted that passengers
coming from countries of this Category shall be required to undergo a
laboratory testat a certified lab
within 72 hours prior to departure and to possess a
certificate showing a negative PCR result. Excluding category number 2 above,
the rest of the passengers may undergo the laboratory test upon their arrival
in the Republic of Cyprus,at their own expense. Passengers arriving in the
Republic of Cyprus from the Grey Category countries (Special Permission)
shall remain in mandatory
self-isolation or mandatory quarantine for a period of 14 days
or alternatively, in
mandatory self-isolation or mandatory quarantine for a period of 10 days
provided that they undergo another Covid-19 test (at their own expense) on
the 10th day and the result comes back negative.
The test result must be sent to the following email address: monada@mphs.moh.gov.cy. In accordance with the Quarantine Decree (No. 9) of the 26th of
February 2021, until
31 March 2021 on 23.59 pm, persons arriving from the United Kingdom shall
undergo a laboratory test upon their arrival at Larnaka and Pafos Airports
and shall be transported, at the state’s expense, to hotels of the Republic for a mandatory 7-day isolation.
On the 7th day upon arrival they shall undergo another laboratory test (at
the Republic’s expense) and in case of a negative result they shall remain in self-isolation for
another 3 days (total days in mandatory isolation: 10 days). It is underlined that all passengers, regardless of
country category, shall be obliged to submit an application for the CyprusFlightPass within 24 hours
prior to their departure flight. Moreover, in order to insure public health
and the monitoring of the epidemiological situation, 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 25 March 2021. (MK/EK) |