Clarifications regarding the decisions of the Council of Ministers for the new measures are given by the Ministry of Health.
Detailed measures
(a) Reopening of schools after the Christmas break on January 10. Upon return, all students, teachers and other staff, must submit a negative Rapid Test for 48 hours.
• The decision includes all without exception, regardless of historical vaccination, as well as persons holding a certificate of illness with COVID-19.
• The test for the specific day will be performed by submitting in printed form or in a text message the result of the Rapid test.
(b) From 22 December 2021, all workers who have completed their vaccination program against Covid-19 with two doses for two-dose vaccines and one dose for single-dose vaccine, or holding a disease certificate (duration 180 days) are required to submit a negative Rapid antigen test for 7 days to enter their workplace.
• Emphasize that employees have 7 days to proceed with a rapid antigen detection test or Rapid antigen detection test.
• Each organization, company, enterprise, can set a specific day on which the employees will be checked for the weekly Rapid test.
Employees who received the booster / 3rd dose of vaccine are excluded.
• For vaccinated people or people who have become ill with it COVID-19 The Rapid test is provided free of charge, as is the case for those who have received at least one dose of the vaccine and have not had the period required to take the second dose.
• It is clarified that if a transmission chain is recorded in a workplace, all employees without exception will be examined.
• The inspections by the competent services will start from December 29.
(c) From 22 December 2021, in anticipation of the Christmas holidays, it is recommended that all citizens before their visit to homes have performed a Rapid antigen test with a negative result. Rapid 48-hour Rapid Antigen Detection Tests are recommended for people who have not received at least one dose of the vaccine, while people who have received at least two doses of the vaccine may take a self-test instead of a Rapid test.
• A self-test is also recommended for people who have received the booster / 3rd dose of vaccine.
• In case of a positive result through self self test, citizens should contact their Personal Doctor, to refer them for PCR examination at the Public Health Clinics of their province of residence.
• Citizens who are not beneficiaries of GESS, in case of a positive result, should contact the Coordination Center of Public Health Clinics at email coordination.iatreiadygeias@moh.gov.cy sending their identification details (name, surname, phone, number identity, date of birth and province), as well as a photo of their positive self-test.
• It is reminded that the presence in homes is allowed with a maximum number of 20 people, including permanent residents and minors.
(d) reducing the time period of the disease certificate against the disease COVID-19 from 6 months (180 days) to 3 months (90 days) with effect from 31 January 2022.
• A relevant announcement will follow in the coming days.
(e) From 22 December 2021 until 6 January 2022, in anticipation of the Christmas holidays, children aged 12-17 years who have not received any dose of the vaccine will be able to attend restaurants (including restaurants in commercial centers and hotels), in theaters, amphitheaters, cinemas, auditoriums, indoor and outdoor stadiums, weddings and christenings with a negative 72-hour Rapid antigen test, accompanied by a parent / guardian program. (at least two doses for dosing vaccines and at least one dose for single-dose vaccine).
• It is clarified that children 12-17 years old accompanied by parents who have completed the vaccination program but the period of 7 months has passed and have not received a booster / 3rd dose of the vaccine will be able to come to these places with a laboratory examination.
• It is reminded that the Safe Pass demonstration is required in places where there is the possibility based on capacity to gather more than 10 people, including employees.
• Children aged 6-11 are excluded, as long as they have a SafePass (negative rapid test with a duration of 7 days) while for children under 6 there is no restriction.
• Individuals who have completed their vaccination regimen are excluded from the necessary condition to have a negative result of laboratory PCR test or rapid antigen test.
• Individuals who received the booster / 3rd dose of vaccine are excluded from the necessary condition to have a negative result of laboratory PCR or rapid antigen test.
• Individuals who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 within the last 6 months.
• In all other areas not mentioned above, the existing provisions based on the decrees continue to apply.
(f) For visitors and staff in day care facilities for vulnerable groups and day care centers co-located in the same premises as nursing homes and other closed care and hospitality structures for the elderly and vulnerable groups, the same measures as in nursing homes and closed structures apply. following the instructions of the Ministry of Health and the State Department of Social Welfare.
• For persons aged 6 to 11 years, it is required to show a negative examination with the sampling to have taken place within 7 days or a certificate of recovery from his illness COVID-19, and for persons aged 12 years and over the demonstration of a negative examination within 72 hours, either a certificate of complete vaccination, or a certificate of recovery from the disease COVID-19 lasting 180 days.