Theano Thiopoulou
Changes in pandemic management are being promoted at European level and are aimed at withdrawing the general restrictive measures that have been imposed so far to stop COVID-19. The EU Council of Ministers plans to approve on Tuesday the abolition of the transmission map as a guide for introducing restrictions on travel between countries. According to an article in the newspaper Naftemporiki, it is a change aimed at facilitating mobility and restoring a certain regularity. The imposition of measures, such as the requirement of a negative test or quarantine, will no longer depend on the traveler's geographical origin, but on the personal COVID certificate. People who have been vaccinated, who have overcome the disease or have a negative test will be able to move freely. Brussels believes that this change is in line with the high rate of vaccination and the rate at which the current variant of the virus is spreading. Despite the rapid escalation of infections, the number of hospitalizations remained relatively under control, at least in countries with high vaccination rates.
However, according to the decision, which is expected to be approved on Tuesday, people who can prove that they have been fully vaccinated, that they have overcome the disease or have a negative test, should not be forced to undergo new tests or quarantine, regardless of the epidemiological situation of their country of origin. The new directive, which updates the one adopted in 2020 during the early stages of the pandemic, will introduce “a personalized approach rather than the geographical area of origin of travelers”, according to a text agreed on Friday by European ambassadors.
READ ALSO: We are open for all those vaccinated from March 1st
On 21 December 2021 the European Commission adopted rules on the EU digital COVID certificate, according to which the validity of vaccination certificates for travel purposes within the EU is set at 9 months (270 days). The potency should be calculated from the date of the last dose of the initial vaccination cycle. In addition, the rules for registering vaccination certificates will be adjusted to take into account booster doses. The booster doses will be recorded as follows:
⦁ 3/3 for booster dose after initial two-dose vaccination cycle
⦁ 2/1 for a booster dose after an initial single-dose vaccination cycle or for a dose of a two-dose vaccine given to a patient who has recovered. The new rules will take effect on February 1, 2022.
Changes in Cyprus from March 1
Further facilitation of trips to Cyprus from abroad for those who have been vaccinated but also for the sick provides for the new operating protocol of the destination that will enter into force on March 1. The protocol, which has long been requested by the Ministry of Tourism, slightly changes the categorization of countries after the orange category is abolished, while among the changes decided is the abolition of the special travel permit in Cyprus for those from gray countries. , as long as they are vaccinated.
Disease certificate
The period of validity of the disease certificate is reduced from 180 days to 90 days. This change will take effect on January 31, 2022 and will apply to all certificate holders, regardless of whether they have issued it before that date. It is pointed out that the certificate of illness will continue to be valid for 180 days from the date of the first positive laboratory test and can be used by citizens for travel purposes. Please note that in the event of travel, the traveler should consult the Re-open EU website or application (reopen.europa.eu) or the national authorities of the country of arrival to be informed of the validity of the certificate, which may be 180 days or less in other countries.
