Filenews 10 May 2021
From today Monday, May 10, the new measures with the introduction of safepass and specific arrangements in retail, schools, dining areas, churches, gatherings in houses, sports and other activities come into force.
At the same time, the obligation to send a message for movements is abolished and the curfew is extended to eleven o'clock in the evening instead of nine.
What citizens need to demonstrate to move to busy places
Citizens may present a vaccination certificate (vaccination card) at least with one dose and after 3 weeks have passed or proof that a person has been ill with COVID-19 in the last 6 months (the release text message or recovery text message sent to them by the Ministry of Health on their mobile phone) or if one of the above does not apply , and as a temporary solution, citizens aged 12 years and over are given the option to present a negative test certificate, PCR or rapid test, valid for 72 hours.
Citizens may present either the form given to them by the various sampling points or the text message sent to their mobile phone with the result of the examination. It is clarified that certificates from antibody tests or self-testing will not be accepted.
The evidence must be presented at the following premises:
- Dining areas (restaurants, cafes, bars, snack bars, etc.)
- Places of religious worship
- Outdoor and closed theatres, cinemas and performing arts or theatres
- Shopping malls and department stores
- Social events such as weddings, christenings and funerals
- Gyms, dance schools and other sports schools, for those who work out indoors
- Nursing homes, nursing centres for the elderly, shelters for chronically ill people and other closed structures
- Hotels and tourist accommodation
- Pre-election gatherings in theatres/amphitheatres, restaurants
- Conferences, trade fairs
- Casino
-Public transport
The production of evidence is not mandatory for going to the following areas:
- Hairdressers, beauty salons
- Banks
- Departments/Services for the public, public and wider public sector
- Gambling and betting businesses
- Popular markets, supermarkets, bakeries, butchers, fish shops, fruit shops, mini-markets, kiosks, pharmacies
- Beaches
- Outdoor excursions, dams and zoos.
Only the Officers of the Police or the competent Ministries/Departments are responsible for checking the possession of evidence according to the undertakings falling within their areas of competence. Business/premises managers are not responsible for checking the evidence and citizens are not required to present the evidence in their possession to unauthorised persons.
Start of schools with physical presence
All levels of education start again from 10 May with the physical presence of the students. Both the staff of all school units and the students of the Gymnasiums, Lyceums and Technical Schools, undergo a mandatory weekly rapid test. Pupils in the second cycle of Primary Schools are optionally subjected to a weekly rapid test.
Students of The Gymnasiums, Lyceums and Technical Schools and the staff of the school units of all grades must undergo a test before their return on 10 May and present a negative result with a validity of 72 hours.
The obligation to rapid test excludes:
Teachers holding a valid CERTIFICATE of vaccination against COVID-19 from the Republic have completed their vaccination regimen with any licensed vaccine and 14 days have passed since the last dose was administered and teachers and pupils/students who have been diagnosed positive for COVID-19 disease in the last six months.
What times does the travel ban apply - when is it allowed
The travel ban runs from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day.
The movement of persons during curfew hours shall continue to be permitted for work purposes to and from the workplace by the presentation of Form A, completed and signed by the employer, certifying the need to travel during the above hours, for the purposes of indignity and urgency, i.e. to go to a medical centre or hospital or pharmacy or veterinarian for medical emergencies and to go to provide emergency assistance to persons unable to self-serve; which must be self-protected.
Social gatherings / events
Gatherings are allowed in public places, such as parks, squares, dams, excursion areas, beaches, pedestrian streets, marinas, zoos, etc., provided that they do not exceed 10 people per group, including minors, and no evidence is required.
Gatherings in houses are allowed with a maximum of 10 people, including minors.
Until 16 May, meals/dinners and any other events for weddings and christenings with a maximum of 10 persons, including minors, may be held.
From 17 May 2021, meals /dinners are allowed ONLY in outdoor areas of organized restaurants, event halls and hotels, provided that the attendees are seated and with a maximum attendance of 200 people. Cocktail parties are forbidden.
From 1 June 2021, meals/dinners may also be held indoors for organized restaurants, event halls and hotels, on the basis of the agreed timetable.
A safepass receipt is required.
Pre-election rallies are allowed in the run-up to the parliamentary elections, provided that the completeness of the venue where the event takes place is respected and the attendees are seated. Cocktails are forbidden. for instance:
In open theatre/amphitheatre up to 50% occupancy,
In closed theatre/amphitheatre up to 30% occupancy,
In clubs/dining areas outdoors seated, and
In houses a maximum of 10 persons including permanently resident persons.
Proof is a prerequisite.
From 10 to 16 May, the church and other forms of religious worship in places of religious worship are held with a maximum number of people of 50 people. From 17 May, the presence of believers with a maximum physical presence of 30% of the capacity of the place of religious worship is allowed.
From 1 June, the presence of believers with a maximum physical presence of 50% of the capacity of the place of religious worship is allowed.
A prerequisite for the physical presence of believers in places of religious worship is the production of evidence.
Until 16 May religious ceremonies (baptisms, weddings, funerals) with a maximum number of 10 persons are allowed.
From 17 May, the maximum number of people at weddings, baptisms and funerals within the places of religious worship is set at 30% of the occupancy of the place.
Proof is a prerequisite.
Reopening of businesses - dining areas
All external areas of the following categories of catering premises may be operated on the basis of the relevant protocol:
- restaurants,
- taverns,
- cafes,
- beer gardens,
- snack bars and bars,
- cafes
- dining areas within shopping centres, canteens and/or sports groups, cultural groups, clubs, clubs, etc.
From 1 June, the interiors of catering operations may also be reopened on the basis of the health protocol.
Proof is a prerequisite.
Shopping centres and retail department stores may be operated.
At the same time, the rest of the retail trade, including department stores, and large stores, is allowed to operate, in compliance with the measure of 1 person to 10 sq.m. of useful space.
Proof is a prerequisite.
Hairdressers and beauty salons may operate on the basis of the health protocol and evidence is not required.
Gyms, dance schools and other sports schools may operate on the basis of what was in force until 25 April and proof of indoor training is a prerequisite.
The operation of gambling and betting businesses is permitted in compliance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and the National Betting Authority and subject to the conditions that the measure of 1 person per 10 sq.m. is respected, without sitting indoors. Table seats are allowed outdoors and proof is not required.
Until May 16, casinos are suspended. From 17 May, casinos are allowed to operate with full capacity at 30% of their capacity and on the basis of the health protocol.
From 1 June, the occupancy rate increases to 50% of capacity and proof is required.
Swimming pools may be operated for sports purposes on the basis of the health protocol and guidelines of the Cyprus Sports Organisation and access to the basis of the protocol applied in the summer of 2020 without the production of evidence is permitted.
The suspension of playgrounds, amusement parks and theme parks remains until 16 May 2021.
From 17 May 2021 children's playgrounds, amusement parks and theme parks are allowed to operate on the basis of protocol and only outdoor areas, without holding social events.
Proof is a prerequisite.
Conferences and trade fairs are not allowed until 16 May.
From 17 May 2021, the above may be carried out, as long as the measure of 30% occupancy of the indoor venue of the conference is respected, with a cocktail ban.
From 1 June 2021 the occupancy amounts to 50% of the occupancy.
Proof is a prerequisite.
The operation of the campgrounds is not allowed.
Hotels and tourist accommodation
From 10 May permanently resident in the Republic is allowed in hotels and tourist accommodation, subject to the presentation of proof.
Culture
Until 16 May, outdoor and closed theatres, amphitheatres, cinemas, and performing arts and theatres with a maximum number of 50 people are allowed.
From 17 May 2021, closed theatres, amphitheatres, cinemas, and performing arts and theatres with a occupancy of up to 30% are allowed. Outdoor areas are allowed to operate with a occupancy of up to 50% of the capacity.
From 1 June, occupancy in both indoor and outdoor areas is set at 50% of capacity and in compliance with health protocols.
Proof is a prerequisite.
Group care-sports and social activities for children 18 years and under
All group training facilities, as well as sports and social activities for children under the age of 18, are permitted on the basis of the protocol in force until 25 April, i.e. with a maximum number of persons of 7 persons, including the trainer (6+1).
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