The new measures come into force from today, Monday, May 10, with the introduction of safepass and specific regulations in the retail trade, schools, restaurants, churches, home gatherings, sports and other activities. At the same time, the obligation to send a message for movements is abolished and the ban is extended at eleven in the evening instead of nine.
What should citizens demonstrate in order to move to places of color?
Citizens can present a vaccination certificate (vaccination card) with at least one dose and after 3 weeks or proof that a person has the disease COVID-19 the last 6 months (the release message or the recovery message sent to them by the Ministry of Health on their mobile phone) or if one of the above does not apply, and as a temporary solution, the choice is given to citizens aged 12 and above to present a certificate of negative test, PCR or rapid test, valid for 72 hours.
Citizens can present either the form given to them by the various sampling points or the text message sent to their mobile phone with the result of the examination. It is clarified that certificates from antibody test or self-test will not be accepted.
The proof must be presented in the following places:
- Dining areas (restaurants, cafes, bars, snack bars, etc.)
- Places of religious worship
- Outdoor and indoor theaters, cinemas and performance halls
- Shopping malls and retail stores
- Social events such as weddings, baptisms and funerals
- Gyms, dance schools and other sports schools, for those who work out indoors
- Nursing homes, nursing homes, accommodation facilities for the chronically ill and other closed structures
- Hotels and tourist accommodation
- Pre-election rallies in theaters / amphitheaters, restaurants, homes
- Conferences, trade fairs
- Casino
Proof is not required to go to the following places:
- Hairdressers, beauty salons
- Banks
- Departments / Services of public service of the private, public and wider public sector
- Gambling and betting companies
- Flea markets, supermarkets, bakeries, butchers, fishmongers, fruit shops, mini-markets, kiosks, pharmacies
- Beaches
- Outdoor excursions, dams and zoos.
The responsibility for the control of possession of evidence has only the Officers of the Police or of the competent Ministries / Departments depending on the companies that fall within their areas of responsibility. The managers of the companies / premises are not responsible for the control of the evidence and the citizens are not obliged to present the evidence in their possession to unauthorized persons.
Opening of schools with physical presence
All levels of education resume from May 10 with the physical presence of students. Both the staff of all school units and the students of the Gymnasiums, Lyceums and Technical Schools, are subject to a mandatory weekly rapid test. The students of the second cycle of the Primary Schools voluntarily undergo a weekly rapid test.
Students of Gymnasiums, Lyceums and Technical Schools and the staff of school units of all levels must be tested before their return on May 10 and present a negative result with a validity of 72 hours.
The following are excluded from the obligation for rapid test:
Teachers who hold a valid vaccination certificate against COVID-19 from the Republic, have completed their vaccination regimen with any licensed vaccine and 14 days have passed since the last dose and the teachers and students who have been diagnosed positive in the disease COVID-19 in the last six months.
What time is the travel ban - when is it allowed?
The travel ban is valid from 11 pm until 5 am the next day.
The movement of persons during the curfew continues to be allowed for work purposes to and from the workplace with the presentation of Form A, completed and signed by the employer and which certifies the need to move during the above hours, for purposes of inviolability and emergency, ie to go to a medical center or hospital or pharmacy or veterinarian for medical emergencies and to go for emergency care to people who are unable to self-care or who have to self-protect.
Social gatherings / events
Gatherings are allowed in public areas, such as parks, squares, dams, picnic areas, beaches, sidewalks, marinas, zoos, etc., provided that they do not exceed 10 people per group, including minors and no proof is required.
Home gatherings are allowed with a maximum of 10 people, including minors.
Until May 16, lunches / dinners and any other events for weddings and christenings with a maximum of 10 persons, including minors, are allowed.
From 17 May 2021, lunches / dinners are allowed to be held ONLY outside of organized restaurants, event halls and hotels, provided that the attendees are seated and with a maximum number of attendees of 200 people. Cocktails are prohibited.
From 1 June 2021, lunches / dinners are allowed to be held indoors in organized restaurants, event halls and hotels, according to the agreed schedule.
A prerequisite is the presentation of a safepass proof.
Pre-election rallies are allowed in view of the parliamentary elections, provided that the space where the event will take place is observed and the attendees will be seated. Cocktails are prohibited. For example:
In open theater / amphitheater up to 50% fullness,
In a closed theater / amphitheater up to 30% fullness,
In clubs / restaurants outside sitting, and
In houses maximum number 10 people including permanent residents.
Prerequisite is the presentation of evidence.
From the 10th to the 16th of May, the ecclesiastical and other forms of religious worship in places of religious worship are held with a maximum number of 50 people. From May 17, the presence of believers is allowed with a maximum physical presence of 30% of the capacity of the place of religious worship.
From June 1, the presence of believers is allowed with a maximum physical presence of 50% of the capacity of the place of religious worship.
A necessary condition for the physical presence of believers in places of religious worship is the presentation of evidence.
Religious ceremonies (baptisms, weddings, funerals) are allowed until May 16 with a maximum number of 10 people.
As of May 17, the maximum number of people at weddings, baptisms and funerals within the places of religious worship is set at 30% of the fullness of the place.
Prerequisite is the presentation of evidence.
Reopening of businesses - restaurants
It is allowed to operate all the outdoor areas of the following categories of restaurants, based on the relevant protocol:
- restaurants,
- taverns,
- cafes,
- breweries,
- snack bars and pubs,
- cafes
- dining areas within shopping malls, canteens and / or sports clubs, cultural clubs, clubs, associations, etc.
From the 1st of June, the reopening of the interiors of the catering companies is allowed, based on the health protocol.
Prerequisite is the presentation of evidence.
The operation of shopping malls and retail stores is allowed.
At the same time, the operation of the rest of the retail trade is allowed, including the department stores, and the large stores, observing the measure of 1 person to 10 sq.m. useful space.
Prerequisite is the presentation of evidence.
The operation of hairdressers and beauty salons is allowed on the basis of the health protocol and does not
proof is required.
The operation of gyms, dance schools and other sports schools is allowed on the basis of what was valid until April 25 and a necessary condition is the presentation of evidence for training indoors.
The operation of gambling and betting companies is allowed in compliance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and the National Betting Authority and under the conditions that the measure of 1 person per 10 sq.m. is observed, without sitting indoors. Outdoor seating is allowed and no proof is required.
Until May 16, the operation of the casinos is suspended. From May 17, the casinos are allowed to operate at full capacity up to 30% of their capacity and on the basis of the health protocol.
From June 1, the occupancy rate increases to 50% of capacity and a prerequisite is the presentation of evidence.
The operation of the swimming pools for sports purposes is allowed on the basis of the health protocol and the guidelines of the Cyprus Sports Organization and access is allowed to the base of the protocol that was implemented in the summer of 2020 without providing evidence.
The operation of playgrounds, amusement parks and theme parks remains suspended until May 16, 2021.
From 17 May 2021, the operation of playgrounds, amusement parks and theme parks is allowed on the basis of protocol and only outdoor areas, without holding social events.
Prerequisite is the presentation of evidence.
Conferences and trade fairs are not allowed until May 16.
From 17 May 2021, the above is allowed to take place, provided that the measure of 30% occupancy of the indoor space of the conference is observed, with a cocktail ban.
From June 1, 2021 the occupancy amounts to 50% of the occupancy.
Prerequisite is the presentation of evidence.
The operation of the camps is not allowed.
Hotels and tourist accommodation
From 10 May, permanent residents of the Republic will be allowed to stay in hotels and tourist accommodation, provided that proof is provided.
Culture
Until May 16, open-air and indoor theaters, amphitheaters, cinemas, and performing arts and theater halls with a maximum number of 50 people are allowed to operate.
From 17 May 2021, the operation of indoor theaters, amphitheaters, cinemas, and performing arts and spectacle halls with a fullness of up to 30% is allowed. Outdoor operation is allowed at full capacity up to 50% of capacity.
From 1 June, occupancy in both indoor and outdoor areas is set at 50% of capacity and in compliance with sanitary protocols.
Prerequisite is the presentation of evidence.
Group tutoring-sports and social activities for children 18 and under
All group tutorials are allowed, as well as sports and social activities for children under the age of 18 according to the protocol that was valid until April 25, ie with a maximum number of 7 people, including the instructor (6 + 1).
For extracurricular activities indoors with a 72-hour test while in open countries the obligation remains the same, ie a mandatory test on a weekly basis.