Filenews 15 June 2021
Measures at the entrance gates of the Republic of Cyprus to limit the spread of mutant strains of coronavirus in Cyprus are taken by the Ministry of Health.
Read the announcement as such:
In view of the increase in passenger traffic at The Republic's airports due to the summer tourist season, attention is focused on minimising the likelihood of introduction of virus mutations into the Community of Cyprus. Due to the aggressive communicability and serious disease caused by the British and Indian strains, particularly in younger people, the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) calls on states to implement measures to limit the likelihood of spread.
In line with ECDC recommendations and measures taken at national level, it is recalled that the following apply to the gateways of Cyprus, inter alia:
- Categorisation of countries in Green, Orange, Red and Grey Category according to their epidemiological picture.
- From Grey Class countries, only certain categories of citizens are allowed in.
- Necessary conditions for entry into the country:
- Presentation of a vaccination certificate (completion of an vaccination regimen) and after two weeks after the last dose has been administered, or
- Presentation of a negative result from PCR tests, as follows:
- Orange Class countries (e.g. United Kingdom, United States, Italy, Germany, etc.): certificate from a PCR test with a negative result, with sampling carried out 72 hours before departure.
- Red Class countries (e.g. Russia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Greece, France, Spain, etc.): certificates from two PCR tests with a negative result, with samples taken within 72 hours. Individuals must remain self-contained until the result of the 2nd test is published.
- Grey Category Countries: certificates from two PCR tests with a negative result, with sampling carried out within 72 hours. Individuals are required to remain in mandatory self-confinement or isolation for 14 days or 7 days if they undergo a PCR test again on the 7th day with a negative result.
- In the case of arrivals from India (Grey Category), and due to the extremely aggravated epidemiological situation it causes in the country due to the Indian mutation, the following shall apply:
- persons who, during the last 14 days prior to their arrival, have been staying or crossing the territory of India, regardless of whether they hold an entry permit and/or a residence permit in Cyprus, shall be prohibited. The exception is Cypriot citizens, citizens of EU and EEA countries and citizens of third countries who are exclusively permanently resident in the areas under the control of the Republic.
- provide a certificate from a PCR test with a negative result, with sampling carried out 72 hours before departure.
- persons exempted from the entry ban shall be transferred to hotels and/or tourist accommodation, where they remain under a mandatory restriction regime for a period of 10 days from the date of arrival and undergo laboratory examination and shall be released from the mandatory restriction if they have a negative effect.
- Regardless of the category of country of arrival, random laboratory checks are carried out at Larnaca and Paphos Airports on passengers who do not have a vaccination certificate.
However, despite the actions taken, the possibility of introducing the mutations cannot be completely ruled out. As evidenced by international research, the Indian strain is most commonly detected in younger people, who due to their intense activity and mobility have increased exposure to the virus and therefore to the effects that contamination can cause. The scientific community points out that the only way to control the spread of virus strains in the community is to speed up vaccination programmes so that as soon as possible there is immunity in the population and prevent the emergence of new strains with more aggressive characteristics.
