Updated countries' epidemiological risk assessment of the disease COVID-19, announced on Saturday, the Ministry of Health, on the basis of which a number of countries change category, leaving only four countries in Category A, while Category C becomes more populous, which includes countries at increased risk compared to categories A and B .
The differences compared to the previous evaluation, dated 6 November 2020, are the following and take effect from 18 January 2021:
Serbia moves from Category B to Category C,
Sweden moves from Category B to Category C,
Latvia moves from Category B to Category C,
Lithuania moves from Category B to Category C,
Japan moves from Class A to Class B,
Estonia moves from Category B to Category C,
Iceland moves from Category C to Category B,
Denmark moves from Category B to Category C,
Uruguay moves from Class B to Class C.
and South Korea moves from Class A to Class B.
According to the Ministry of Health, the epidemiological picture of the various countries was re-evaluated by the Infectious Diseases Surveillance and Infection Control Unit of the Medical Services and Public Health Services, regarding the disease COVID-19.
The assessment was based on the epidemiological indicators of the countries, such as: its actual R (t) breeding number for SARS-CoV-2, the number of new diagnoses, the number of laboratory tests, the mortality rate per 100,000 inhabitants, the estimated prevalence and the impact and classification by the World Health Organization (WHO) as these indicators are presented in valid databases.
The following categorization of countries, based on epidemiological risk assessment, is extremely dynamic and can change at any time as the pandemic evolves and epidemiological data change. To this end, new data will be announced and the list of countries will be updated frequently.
The relevant categorization of countries has taken into account the amended Recommendation of the European Council on the external borders of the European Union.
Category A - Low risk countries at this stage
Third Countries: 1) Australia, 2) New Zealand, 3) Singapore, 4) Thailand
According to the Ministry of Health, 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) have been classified in this category. -10 / 100,000 inhabitants) and / or classification of sporadic cases or cluster of cases according to the WHO and / or at least a satisfactory laboratory test (> 3000 tests / 100,000 inhabitants).
Please note that for passengers from Category A countries, a laboratory test certificate is not required. COVID-19, but neither is self-restraint.
Category B - Countries with potentially low risk but with more doubt compared to Category A
Member States of the European Union: 1) Germany, 2) Greece, 3) Finland
Members of the Schengen Area: 1) Iceland, 2) Norway
Third Countries: 1) Japan, 2) China (including Hong Kong and Macau), 3) South Korea, 4) Rwanda
According to the Ministry of Health, countries with an actual reproductive number (Rt) greater than 1 and / or a number of new diagnoses> 1 / 100,000 inhabitants per day and / or increased mortality have been classified in this category. COVID-19 (> 10 / 100,000 inhabitants) and / or limited laboratory testing (<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 proving a negative PCR test for the virus.
The Ministry of Health also clarifies that passengers from category B countries falling into the following categories may undergo the molecular examination upon arrival in the Republic: Cypriot citizens and their family members (their foreign spouses, minor children and parents legally residing in the Republic, persons entitled under the Vienna Convention, persons regardless of nationality, in the country of residence of whom no laboratory analysis service (public or private) is provided, to those wishing to travel to the Republic of Cyprus and upon relevant announcement.
Note that the cost of the test is covered by them and in addition these individuals should remain under house arrest until the result is issued.
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) Denmark, 6) Estonia, 7) Ireland, 8) Spain, 9) Italy, 10) Croatia, 11) Latvia, 12) Lithuania, 13) Luxembourg, 14) Malta, 15) Netherlands, 16) Hungary, 17) Poland, 18) Portugal, 19) Romania, 20) Slovakia, 21) Slovenia, 22) Sweden, 23) Czech Republic
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) Algeria, 2) Morocco, 3) Montenegro, 4) Serbia, 5) Uruguay
According to the Ministry of Health, this category also includes those countries that are not included in categories A or B.
Some of the countries at increased risk according to their epidemiological picture are mentioned above.
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 opportunity to choose to undergo a diagnostic test for the disease. COVID-19 upon arrival in Cyprus or have an RT-PCR certificate with them COVID-19 with a negative result within 72 hours before departure.
It is noted that these individuals either undergo molecular testing for coronavirus disease COVID-19 on the 10th day of self-limitation at own expense and the self-limitation is terminated on the assumption that the result of the molecular test is negative, or released on the 14th day of self-limitation on the condition that they are not positive for coronavirus disease COVID-19, according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.
According to the Ministry of Health, 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 sampling laboratory molecular test will be performed. COVID-19 to passengers of selected flights to arrive.
The above categorization of countries will be valid from January 18, 2021.