The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works announces that the Council of Ministers has today made the following changes regarding the Action Plan for the gradual resumption of flights and the reopening of airports which will be implemented from 1η March 2021. The changes are as follows:
1. For the countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) including Switzerland, there is no amendment. That is, from March 1, 2021, the categorization of the countries of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) will be followed, which will be classified in the categories green, Orange ή red.
2. For the month of March for the third countries (United Kingdom, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Lebanon, UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Belarus) as well as for the list of third countries of the European Council, the evaluation of the countries These will be carried out by the Ministry of Health which will classify them into green, Orange, red and gray. Those of the above countries classified in the gray category will need a special entry permit and in addition passengers will have to submit a PCR laboratory analysis within 72 hours before departure. In this category will apply self-restraint / quarantine measures which will be in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Health.
3. From 1η up to 31η In March 2021, arrivals from any of the above countries, which has been classified in the green category, will undergo a laboratory PCR test, the cost of which will be covered by the Republic of Cyprus.
4. It is noted that, for the month of March, all passengers, regardless of category, arriving in Cyprus will have undergone a PCR laboratory test.
5. From 1η April 2021, the evaluation and ranking of third countries will be done in the categories green, orange or red according to the criteria of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). As third countries, in addition to the United Kingdom, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Belarus, are added, from 1η April 2021, and the following countries: Serbia, Qatar, Bahrain, United States of America, Armenia and Georgia.
6. Those countries not included in the above will be classified in the category Gray - special license.
7. The Ministry of Health will announce on a weekly basis the categorization of countries.
8. In addition, the Council of Ministers decided to extend, until 31 March 2021, the 7-day stay measure in places to be indicated by the Republic of Cyprus for those arriving from the United Kingdom, in accordance with the conditions already in force.
9. It is reminded that the following applies to each category:
i. Category Green. In this category, all passengers, upon arrival in Cyprus, from 1η up to 31η In March 2021 they will undergo a PCR laboratory analysis, the cost of which will be covered by the Republic of Cyprus. From 1η April 2021 there will be no restrictions, a practice that is still valid today.
ii. Category Orange, which will require the submission of a negative PCR laboratory analysis within 72 hours before departure, a practice that is still valid today.
iii. Category Red, which will require double laboratory analysis, ie negative PCR laboratory analysis within 72 hours before departure and another PCR laboratory analysis upon arrival in Cyprus. No self-restraint / quarantine measures apply in this category. It is noted that Cypriot citizens and legal residents of the Republic can choose to carry out a laboratory test only upon arrival in Cyprus. In this case, they should remain in a mandatory self-restraint regime according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health, unless they provide additional laboratory analysis with a negative PCR within 72 hours before departure.
iv. Category Gray - special license. The procedure for granting a special permit to enter the Republic for third country nationals will be followed in this category (Cypriot citizens, those legally residing in the Republic of Cyprus and European citizens are excluded from the grant of a special permit). Arrivals in this category should remain in a mandatory self-restraint regime according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health.
v. Sampling laboratory tests will be performed in all categories in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Health.