Filenews 11 May 2021
New guidelines have been issued by the Minister for Transport, Communications and Works on how to travel in public and private transport.
1. Public Passenger Transport
1.1. The maximum number of passengers who can carry public transport – M.D.M. (Regular Passenger Buses at a fare per passenger) in all provinces of Cyprus shall be set at 50% of the capacity of each bus, with the exception of buses for which a special permit is granted by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, specifying a higher percentage of capacity, in accordance with paragraph 2 of this notice.
1.2. The maximum number of passengers who may carry Buses with an E licence, Buses used for closed-door bus services to and from airports (shuttle), as well as private buses licensed for road use, in all provinces of Cyprus, are fixed as 50% of the capacity of each bus, unless the following are observed, where the maximum number of passengers who can carry these Buses is set at 100% of the capacity of each bus , in the following paragraph 2 of this notice:
(a) for persons aged 18 years and over, there is, either a negative laboratory examination or rapid antigen detection test for COVID-19 disease with sampling carried out within 72 hours, or a vaccination certificate for COVID-19 disease at least at one dose and provided that a period of three weeks has passed after the date of vaccination, or evidence of release in the case of persons ill with COVID-19 disease and provided that no period of six has passed months from the date of sampling of their initial positive diagnosis or Cyprus Flight Pass as specified in paragraph 2.18(a) of the relevant Decree ((No. 16) of 2021),
And (b) for persons aged 12 to 17 years there is a certificate of negative diagnostic rapid detection of an antigen on a weekly basis:
It is understood that persons under the age of 12 years of age do not require the above,
1.3. The maximum number of passengers who can carry buses carrying exclusively students to and from their educational institutions (public and private) in all provinces of Cyprus shall be set at 100% of the capacity of each bus in accordance with paragraph 2.2. (p) the relevant Decree (No. 16) of 2021) and paragraph 2 of this Notice.
1.4. The maximum number of passengers who can carry buses with a multi-family Road Licence shall be set at 100% of the capacity of each bus.
1.5. The maximum number of passengers that taxis can carry is 100% of the number specified in the Taxi Road Licence, with the exception of the front seat next to the taxi driver.
2. Private Passenger Transport
2.1. Private vehicles may be loaded by persons of the same family (household), including minor children of the family, depending on the capacity of the vehicle, without the use of a mask.
2.2. Persons from different households may be on board private vehicles, depending on the capacity of the vehicle, with the use of a mask necessary.
2.3. For travel by private vehicles (i.e. not 'public use', such as buses and taxis), in the case of travel for work purposes, except for the use of a mask which is mandatory, the following shall be recommended:
2.3.1. Mass sharing with the same vehicle of persons not residing in the same house should, where practicable and feasible, be avoided.
2.3.2. The above applies either if the vehicle belongs to the company/employer and employees move with it to and from work or from the company's base to their work and vice versa, or if the vehicle belongs to one of the employees and moves with it colleagues for the same purpose.
2.3.3. The company/employer:
(k) it should organise, where possible, a different way of transporting staff for the above purposes in order to avoid joint movement (e.g. use of other vehicles of the company where they exist, etc.);
(ii) develop a system for managing possible incidents;
(ii) keep employees informed of the Directives issued by the Ministry of Health;
(v) to issue instructions to employees on the measures to be taken by them with regard to the COVID epidemic – 19;
(v) issue instructions to its employees on their obligations arising in the event of symptoms of the COVID epidemic – 19.
2.3.4. More generally, for vehicles used for travel purposes for work by persons from different households it is recommended that appropriate measures be taken, such as:
(k) daily and frequent disinfection of handles, handles, metal surfaces on seats, seat belts, etc.;
(ii) general cleaning at the end of each day;
(ii) placing an approved antiseptic hand in each vehicle for use by the driver of passengers;
(n) the air conditioning systems remain closed,
(v) the windows of the vehicle remain open during the journey.
3. Additional Directives on Public Passenger Transport
3.1. Where there is no driver's canopy and protective film separating him from the passenger entrance, the seats behind the driver and the first seat on the left (guide's seat – where available) must remain empty.
3.2. All necessary measures shall be taken to avoid overcrowding during boarding and disembarkation.
3.3. At the entrance of each bus there must be a liquid hand antiseptic for use by all passengers.
3.4. Buses must be cleaned and disinfected frequently, in any case before the start of the service and during the day. Cleaning/disinfection shall be carried out at least every four routes and, where possible, cleaned/disinfected at the end of each route. Cleaning/disinfection should be done with care, especially on surfaces frequently touched such as handles, handles, metal surfaces, safety belts, rails, etc., using disinfectants and materials recommended by the Ministry of Health.
3.5. At each bus stop, at the end of each route and at each break, the bus doors remain open, as well as the windows and skylight panels if any.
3.6. The buses referred to in paragraph 1.2 of this notice must, in addition to the general guidelines for the cleaning and disinfection of the buses mentioned above, be disinfected before and after the transport of pupils.
3.7. It is recommended that students sit daily in a predetermined position where possible.
3.8. It is also recommended that pupils belonging to the same department or siblings sit in adjacent seats.
3.9. Buses do not use air-recycling air conditioners and windows and skylight panels (open) are used where they exist.
3.10. The use of a protective face mask by workers and passengers on all Regular Passenger Buses at a fare per passenger, as well as on all means of public transport (taxi, tourist buses, closed-door bus services to and from airports (shuttle)) regardless of age, continues to be mandatory in all provinces.
4. The above measures shall apply from their publication on the official page of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works.
