Monday, November 1, 2021

CATEGORIZATION OF COUNTRIES FOR TRAVEL - wef 4 November 2021 [Ireland and UK remain in the red]

 Filenews 1 November 2021


Countries epidemiological risk assessment for COVID-19 disease, dated 01/11/2021 Following a decision of the Council of Ministers, dated 18 February 2021, regarding the Action Plan for the gradual resumption of flights and the reopening of airports, the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit of the Ministry of Health re-evaluated the epidemiological picture of 19 different countries.

Norway, Czech Republic and Denmark were downgraded to the red category The classification for the countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) including Switzerland in the Green, Orange or Red Categories is based on that of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Regarding third countries (United Kingdom, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Belarus, Qatar, Serbia, United States of America, Armenia, Georgia, Bahrain, 1/6) / 21 Kuwait and Canada and from 15/10/2021 Oman as well as all the additional countries included in the updated list of the Recommendation of the European Council (EU) 2021/89, for the gradual abolition of temporary restrictions on unnecessary travel in the EU, they are evaluated epidemiologically by the Ministry of Health and are classified in Green, Orange and Red.

The following categorization of countries, based on epidemiological risk assessment, is extremely dynamic and can be differentiated at any time, as the pandemic evolves and epidemiological data change. To this end, new data will be announced and the list of countries will be updated frequently.

Green countries - Low risk countries at this stage
 
Member States of the European Union: Italy, Malta 
Small States: Vatican City 
Third Countries: United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia

It is noted that for passengers coming from Green Category countries, the presentation of a COVID-19 laboratory test certificate is not required, nor is it self-restraint. Orange Category Countries - Countries with potentially low risk but more doubtful compared to the Green Category Member States of the European Union: France, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Sweden Small states: Andorra, Monaco, Schengen Members: Liechtenstein Third Countries: Australia, Japan, Qatar, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Bahrain, South Korea, Uruguay, Rwanda, Chile

Please note that all passengers from the Orange countries are required to have a PCR laboratory test within 72 hours prior to departure and to have a certificate showing a negative PCR test for the virus. It is also clarified that Cypriot citizens, their foreign spouses and their minor children, as well as passengers legally residing in the Republic from countries of the Orange Category, provided that they meet one of the following conditions may perform the molecular examination upon arrival. in the Republic: They are passengers who have completed at least the 1st dose of vaccines accepted by the Republic, or They are passengers aged 16 to 18 who have taken at least the first dose of vaccines accepted by the Republic, or They are minor passengers 12 to 15 years old, or They are passengers who for medical reasons can not be vaccinated, upon presentation of a relevant certificate from the Ministry of Health of the Republic. It is noted that the cost of the test is covered by them and in addition these individuals will have to remain under house arrest until the result is issued. Red Countries - Countries at higher risk compared to Green and Orange Countries Member States of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Finland                                                                                                     Small States: San Marino Members of the Schengen Area: Switzerland, Iceland, Norway Third Countries: Egypt, Armenia, Georgia, United States of America, United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Belarus, Lebanon, Oman, Ukraine, Russia, Serbia, Singapore

It is noted that all passengers coming from the Red Sea countries are required: a) to have a laboratory test within 72 hours before departure and to have a certificate proving a negative PCR test for the virus and b) to perform in a laboratory test upon arrival in the Republic of Cyprus. It is noted that the cost of the exams is covered by them and in addition these people will have to remain under house arrest until the result is issued. It is also clarified that Cypriot citizens, their foreign spouses and their minor children, and as well as passengers legally residing in the Republic from countries of the Red Category, provided that they meet one of the following conditions falling into the following categories may undergo the molecular examination upon arrival in the Republic:

They are passengers who have completed at least the 1st dose of vaccines accepted by the Republic, or They are passengers aged 16 to 18 who have taken at least the first dose of vaccines accepted by the Republic, or They are minor passengers 12 to 15 years old, or They are passengers who for medical reasons can not be vaccinated, upon presentation of a relevant certificate from the Ministry of Health of the Republic. In such a case, the persons referred to in points 1-4 above remain in a compulsory self-restraint regime for 72 hours after their arrival and after the end of 72 hours undergo a molecular examination (PCR) at their own expense. If the result of the re-examination is negative, they are released from self-restraint. Grey Category Countries (Special License / Special Permission): Countries not listed above in the Green, Orange and Red categories are considered to be in the Grey category (Special Permission). For Grey Category countries, entry into the Republic of Cyprus is allowed only to the following categories of passengers: Cypriot citizens and members of their families (their foreign spouses and their minor children), European citizens, citizens of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Switzerland, Legal persons residing in the Republic, Persons entitled to enter the Republic under the Vienna Convention, and Third-country nationals entitled to enter the Republic of Cyprus, after special permission from the Republic of Cyprus as determined by the Infection Control (Definition of Measures to Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus COVID-19) Decree (No. 9) of 2021 , as in each case this is modified. It is noted that passengers coming from the countries of this Category must have undergone a laboratory test by a recognized laboratory, with the sampling carried out during the last 72 hours before their trip to the Republic of Cyprus and have a certificate, proving negative PCR for COVID-19. It is also clarified that Cypriot citizens, their foreign spouses and their minor children, as well as passengers legally residing in the Republic from Grey Category countries, provided that they meet one of the following conditions falling within the following categories may fulfil the molecular examination upon arrival in the Republic: They are passengers who have completed at least the 1st dose of vaccines accepted by the Republic, or They are passengers aged 16 to 18 who have taken at least the first dose of vaccines accepted by the Republic, or They are minor passengers 12 to 15 years old, or They are passengers who for medical reasons can not be vaccinated, upon presentation of a relevant certificate from the Ministry of Health of the Republic.
Passengers arriving in the Republic of Cyprus from Grey Category (Special Permission) remain in a state of compulsory self-restraint or quarantine for fourteen (14) days or alternatively in a state of compulsory self-restraint or compulsory isolation (7) ) days if they undergo a molecular test again for COVID-19 disease (at their own expense) on the 7th day and have a negative laboratory result. It is noted that the above categorization of countries will be valid from November 4, 2021. Conditions for vaccinated passengers: The Ministry of Health clarifies the following that apply from 10 May for vaccinated passengers arriving in the Republic of Cyprus through the entrance gates: Persons regardless of nationality, holding a valid vaccination certificate for COVID-19 disease and arriving in Cyprus from abroad, regardless of the country of departure, will be exempted for entry purposes from the obligation to perform laboratory tests, as well as the obligation to perform laboratory tests. , provided that the following conditions are met: 1) Hold a valid vaccination certificate from the following countries: (i) Member States of the European Union (including Cyprus); (ii)Countries of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway); (iii) Switzerland, (iv) Israel, (v) United Kingdom, (vi) Russia, (vii) United Arab Emirates, (viii) Saudi Arabia, (ix) Ukraine, (x) Jordan, (xi) Lebanon, (xii) Egypt, (xiii) Belarus, (xiv) Serbia, (xv) Qatar, (xvi) Bahrain, (xvii) United States of America, (xviii) Armenia, (xix) Georgia, (xx) Canada, (xxi) Kuwait, (xxii) China and (xxiii) the Oman 2) They have been vaccinated with either one of the approved vaccines of the European Medicines Agency (Pfizer / BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Janssen), or with the Sputnik V vaccine, or with the Sinopharm vaccine (BBIBPCOVID-19) or with Sinov complete the vaccination regimen. It is noted that in the case of two-dose vaccines the person should have been vaccinated with both doses, while in the case of the Janssen vaccine (single-dose vaccine) 14 days should have elapsed between the vaccine dose and the travel date. More information is available at https://cyprusflightpass.gov.cy/en/vaccinated-passengers. It is emphasized that all passengers, regardless of the category of countries, including those holding a valid vaccination certificate must submit an application to CyprusFlightPass within 48 hours before the departure of their flight. In addition, for the purposes of ensuring public health and surveillance of the epidemiological picture, the Ministry of Health may carry out sample laboratory COVID-19 molecular testing on passengers (including persons holding a vaccination certificate) of selected pilots. (MKY)