Filenews 6 December 2021
Following a decision of the Council of Ministers, dated February 18, 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 proceeded to a reassessment of the epidemiological picture of the various countries with regard to the COVID-19 disease.
Specifically:
• Malta has been reclassified from the orange 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 Categories Green, Orange or Red, is based on 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, Qatar, Serbia, United States of America, Armenia, Georgia, Bahrain), in addition to 1/6/21 Kuwait and Canada and from 15/10/2021 Oman as well as all additional countries included in the updated list of Recommendation of the European Council (EU) 2021/89, on the gradual abolition of temporary restrictions on non-essential travel in the EU, are epidemiologically assessed by the Ministry of Health and classified into Green, Orange and Red.
The following categorization of countries, based on the epidemiological risk assessment, is extremely dynamic and can be differentiated at any time, as the pandemic evolves and the 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
- Third Countries: United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia
It is noted that passengers coming from green category countries do not require the presentation of a covid-19 laboratory testing certificate, nor self-determination.
Orange Countries – Countries with a possible low risk but with more doubt compared to the Green Category
- Member States of the European Union: Greece
- Third Countries: Argentina, Australia, Japan, Israel, Canada, Qatar, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Colombia, New Zealand, Uruguay, Rwanda, Chile
It is noted that all passengers coming from the countries of the Orange category, are required to have carried out a laboratory PCR test within 72 hours before their departure and to have a certificate proving a negative PCR test for the virus.
Red Countries – Countries at increased risk compared to green and orange countries
- Member States of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Czech Republic, Finland
- Small states: Andorra, Monaco, Vatican City, San Marino
- Schengen area members: Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway
- Third Countries: Egypt, Armenia, Georgia, United States of America, United Kingdom, Jordan, Belarus, Lebanon, South Korea, Oman, Ukraine, Peru, Russia, Serbia
It is noted that all passengers coming from the countries of the Red Category are required: a) to have carried out a laboratory test within 72 hours prior to their departure and to have a certificate proving a negative PCR test for the virus and b) to carry out a laboratory test upon their arrival in the Republic of Cyprus.
It is noted that the cost of the examinations is covered by them and in addition these people should remain under house arrest until the result is issued.
Grey Category Countries (Special Permission):
Countries not mentioned above in the categories Green, Orange and Red are considered to be included 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,
Persons legally residing in the Republic,
Persons entitled to enter the Republic in accordance with the Vienna Convention, and
Persons of third-country nationality who are entitled to enter the Republic of Cyprus, after a special permit from the Republic of Cyprus as determined by the Infectious Diseases (Determination of Measures to Prevent the Spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus) Decree (No. 9) of 2021,as amended from time to time.
Passengers arriving in the Republic of Cyprus from countries of the Grey Category (Special Permission) remain in a regime of mandatory self-isolation or mandatory isolation (quarantine) of fourteen (14) days or alternatively in a regime of mandatory self-isolation or mandatory isolation (quarantine) of seven (7) days if they undergo again a molecular test for covid-19 disease (at their own expense) on the7th day and have a negative laboratory effect.
In addition, for all categories (green, orange, red and grey) passengers who meet the requirements for a diagnostic test in Cyprus instead of in the country of departure are listed at the following link:
https://cyprusflightpass.gov.cy/el/passengers-eligible-for-a-test
It is noted that the above categorization of countries will be valid from 09 December 2021.
Conditions for vaccinated/recovered passengers:
The conditions that apply to vaccinated persons or persons who have recovered from the COVID-19 disease so that they can travel to the Republic of Cyprus, from any country of departure, without being obliged to meet the conditions of the respective category, such as rt-PCR laboratory test or obligation for self-isolation / quarantine etc. or issuance of a special permit, for the purposes of entry into the Republic of Cyprus are described in the following link:
https://cyprusflightpass.gov.cy/el/vaccinated-passengers
Taking into account the data that emerge regarding the new variant of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 that was initially detected in Botswana and sounded the alarm due to the large number of mutations it carries and for the preservation of public health, as of November 26, 2021, the Ministry of Health informs that:
i)In addition to the already applicable measures and without affecting them, all persons entering the Republic of Cyprus, by air, regardless of their initial country of departure and regardless of whether or not they hold an acceptable certificate of comprehensive vaccination or an acceptable certificate of recovery from the COVID-19 disease or negative laboratory test upon their departure, as of 06 December 2021, (00:01 a.m.) until 10 January 2022, (23:59 pm) will undergo a PCR diagnostic test for COVID-19 upon arrival at the airports of the Republic of Cyprus. The cost of the PCR diagnostic test for COVID-19 will be paid by the passenger.
ii) The arrival and/or entry into the Republic of any person who, during the last 14 days prior to his arrival in the Republic, was either staying or has passed through the territory of the countries is prohibited:
• South Africa,
• Lesotho,
• Kingdom of Eswatini,
• Zimbabwe,
• Mozambique,
• Malawi
• Botswana
For more information on the people who are exempt from the ban and the procedure they should follow please visit the link: https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/uploads/26112021_apagorefsieisodouneametallaxi_EL.pdf
It is emphasized that all passengers, regardless of country category, including people holding a valid vaccination certificate, must submit an application to the CyprusFlightPass within 48 hours before the departure of their flight. In addition, for the purpose of ensuring Public Health and monitoring the epidemiological picture, the Ministry of Health may carry out random laboratory molecular testing of COVID-19 on passengers (including persons holding a vaccination certificate) on selected flights.
