Thailand was downgraded to Category B, Rwanda to Category C, but six countries (Algeria, Morocco, Montenegro, Serbia, Uruguay and Japan) were removed from the classification by the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit, which re-evaluated the epidemiological countries in relation to Covid-19 disease.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Health, the changes will take effect on February 19.
Following the new reassessment, the list of countries is as follows.
Category A – Low risk countries at this stage
Third Countries: 1) Australia, 2) New Zealand, 3) Singapore
Countries with a true reproductive number (Rt) of less than 1 and / or a small number of new diagnoses (<1 / 100,000 inhabitants per day) and / or low or very low COVID19 mortality (<5-10 / 100,000 inhabitants) and / or classification of sporadic cases or cluster of cases according to the WHO and / or at least satisfactory laboratory testing (> 3000 tests / 100,000 inhabitants).
It is noted that passengers from Category A countries, by decision of the Council of Ministers, dated February 3, remain in mandatory self-limitation of 72 hours and perform a PCR laboratory test 72 hours after arrival.
Category B – Countries with potentially low risk but with more doubt compared to Category A
Member States of the European Union: 1) Germany, 2) Finland, 3) Greece
Members of the Schengen Area: 1) Norway, 2) Iceland
Third Countries: 1) China (including Hong Kong and Macau), 2) South Korea, 3) Thailand
Countries with a true reproductive number (Rt) greater than 1 and / or a number of new diagnoses> 1 / 100,000 inhabitants per day and / or increased COVID-19 mortality (> 10 / 100,000 inhabitants) and / or limited laboratory testing are classified in this category. (<2000 tests / 100,000 inhabitants) or lack of WHO classification.
It is noted that passengers coming from Category B countries are required to have a laboratory test within 72 hours before departure and to have a Certificate, which proves a negative PCR test for the virus. In addition to the above, by decision of the Council of Ministers, dated 3 February, passengers remain in mandatory self-restraint for 72 hours and undergo a PCR laboratory test 72 hours after arrival.
It is also clarified that passengers from category B countries falling into the following categories may undergo the molecular examination upon arrival in the Republic:
a) Cypriot citizens and members of their families (their foreign spouses, minor children and their parents),
b) all legally resident in the Republic,
(c) persons entitled under the Vienna Convention;
d) persons regardless of nationality, in the country of residence of which no laboratory analysis service is provided (public or private), to those who wish to travel to the Republic of Cyprus and upon relevant announcement.
Category C – Countries at increased risk compared to categories A and B.
Member States of the European Union: 1) Austria, 2) Belgium, 3) Bulgaria, 4) France, 5) Ireland, 6) Croatia, 7) Luxembourg, 8) Romania, 9) Spain, 10) Italy, 11) Malta, 12) Netherlands, 13) Hungary, 14) Poland, 15) Portugal, 16) Slovakia, 17) Slovenia, 18) Czech Republic, 19) Denmark 20) Estonia, 21) Latvia, 22) Lithuania, 23) Sweden.
United Kingdom *
Small states: 1) Andorra, 2) Monaco, 3) Vatican City, 4) San Marino
Members of the Schengen Area: 1) Switzerland, 2) Liechtenstein
Third Countries: 1) Rwanda
According to the Decontamination Decree (No. 2) of 2021, only certain categories of citizens are allowed to enter the Republic from category C countries who have the option to undergo a diagnostic test for COVID-19 during their arrival in Cyprus or to have an RT-PCR COVID-19 certificate with a negative result within 72 hours before departure. It is noted that these individuals either undergo a molecular test for Coronavirus COVID-19 disease on the 10th day of self-limitation at their own expense and the self-limitation terminates on the basis that the molecular test result is negative, or are released on the 14th day of self-limitation. are not positive for coronavirus COVID-19, according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.
In addition, according to the Decontamination Decree (No. 8), dated 12 February 2021, until 28 February 2021 at 23.59 pm, special arrangements apply to persons arriving from the United Kingdom. These people undergo a laboratory test upon arrival at Larnaca and Paphos Airports, and are transported at state expense to hotels in the Republic for a mandatory limit of 7 days. On the 7th day of their arrival, they undergo a laboratory test again and in case of a negative result, they continue to restrict themselves at home for a period of 3 additional days (total number of days of mandatory isolation: 10 days).
Finally, it is emphasized that all passengers, regardless of country category, are required to apply for CyprusFlightPass within 24 hours before the departure of their flight. In addition, for the purposes of ensuring Public Health and surveillance of the epidemiological picture, a COVID-19 molecular laboratory molecular test will be performed on passengers of selected arriving flights.
