New revised COVID-19 update plan comes into effect from today, with citizens enjoying generous new relaxations, on the eve of the two-year anniversary of the announcement of the first cases of coronavirus in Cyprus on 9 March 2020 and since the country's epidemiological picture has allowed the Government to take the next big step towards normality.
In essence, as of today, businesses, premises and professional activities are divided into categories based on risk, while the number of short-stay premises for which a safe pass will not be required is increasing.
Among the important changes coming into force from today, the reduction of quarantine from 10 to 7 days for outbreaks, provided of course that they undergo an examination at a predetermined point indicated to the individual by the Ministry of Health.
Also, from today 8 March 2022, close contacts of a confirmed positive case who have not been isolated from the virus positive person (e.g. parents caring for a minor child, etc.) instead of remaining in restriction for 10+7 days, may after the release of the case on day 7 undergo testing (Rapid or PCR) and if they secure a negative result be released. The decision has retroactive effect.
Furthermore, from today, Tuesday, the capacity in retail establishments, casinos, gyms is increased and the maximum number of persons at events including weddings and christenings is increased to 500 persons, provided that the area of the premises allows for a ratio of 1.5 square metres per person. The ban on holding student parades is also lifted
As announced by the Ministry of Health, from today no safepass will be required in supermarkets, grocery stores, butchers, fruit shops and businesses serving an audience of less than 100 square metres, Take Away services, pharmacies, bakeries and kiosks.
How are premises divided according to risk
High-risk[/B] premises include entertainment and music and dance centres serving 150 people or more and catering premises serving 150 people or more with a dance floor.
High-risk[/B] premises include entertainment centres and music and dance centres serving 150 people or more and catering premises serving 150 people or more with a dance floor.
Medium-risk[/B] premises include entertainment and music and dance venues serving less than 150 persons and catering premises serving 150 persons or more without a dance floor or serving less than 150 persons with a dance floor or without a dance floor. In addition, the same category includes the holding of events, including weddings and christenings, in catering establishments serving less than 150 persons (1 person per 1,5 m²), hotels, tourist accommodation, stadiums (70% capacity), places of worship (70% capacity), gyms (1 person per 3 m²), casinos (70% capacity), hairdressing salons, hairdressing salons, beauty and tattoo parlours (1 person per 4 m²), and restaurants (1 person per 4 m²).(70% capacity), public transport and conferences and trade fairs (70% capacity).
Low-risk premises[/B] include theatres, auditoriums, cinemas, theatres (75% capacity), schools, higher education institutions, shopping centres (1 person per 4 m2), gambling and betting establishments (1 person per 4 m2), betting and gaming establishments (1 person per 4 m2), and other premises (1 person per 4 m2).
Low-risk premises[/B] include theatres, auditoriums, cinemas, theatres (75% capacity), schools, higher education institutions, shopping centres (1 person per 4 m2), betting and gaming establishments (1 person per 4 m2), betting and betting establishments (1 person per 4 m2) and other premises (1 person per 4 m2).m), retail trade (1 person per 4 m2 ), banks (1 person per 4 m2 ), businesses/organisations serving the public (1 person per 4 m2 ), archaeological sites, museums, historical sites and galleries (1 person per 4 m2 ), playgrounds (1 person per 4 m2 ), bazaars, fairs and the holding of examinations.
How should the citizen operate depending on premises and history:
persons with no history of vaccination or have completed their vaccination schedule and the 7-month period has elapsed or hold a certificate of infection and the 90-day period has elapsed must:
In high-risk settings, they must possess a 24-hour Rapid test or 48-hour PCR test, and for persons 6-17 years of age the requirement is for a 72-hour Rapid or PCR test.
In medium-risk areas, they must possess a 48-hour Rapid test or 72-hour PCR test, while for persons 6-17 years of age the obligation is a 72-hour Rapid or PCR test.
In low-risk places, a 72-hour Rapid test or 72-hour PCR test is required, while for persons 6-17 years of age the obligation is a 72-hour Rapid or PCR test, and for primary school pupils the obligation is a twice-weekly Rapid or PCR test.
persons who received a booster/3rd dose of vaccine, or received two doses for bivalent vaccines, or one dose for JJ and the 7-month period has not elapsed or hold a certificate of infection and the 90-day period has not elapsed must:
In high-risk settings, hold a 48-hour Rapid test or 72-hour PCR test; for persons 6-17 years of age, the requirement is for a 72-hour Rapid or PCR test.
In Medium-risk areas,
In Low-risk areas,
they may be on presentation of a valid Certificate of Vaccination or Disease
In Low-risk areas,
they may be on presentation of a valid Certificate of Vaccination or Disease.
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The procedure to be followed for case release is as follows:
- Virus-positive individuals will be notified on day 6 of self-limitation by text message of the predetermined time and place to come in for the Rapid test on day 7. As a reminder, the date of laboratory diagnosis of the case is considered as day zero (measurement starts on the next day)
- Due to the retroactive effect of the decision, the first notification on Monday 7 March 2022 will be for virus positive individuals who, on 8 March 2022, will have completed not only day 7 but also day 8 or 9 of their initial diagnosis.
- Only laboratory tests performed at designated Ministry of Health sites will be recognized as valid for release purposes prior to day 10. (Those individuals who do not follow the above procedure will be eligible for automatic release based on the procedure in effect on day 10).
[*]If the result is negative on day 7, the positive case will be required to continue self-limiting until receiving the release message from the Ministry of Health where they will be released on the next day (restriction day 8) and will be able to issue the certificate of disease through the portalhttps:/www.eudcc.gov.cy/[BR][*]It is stressed that when conducting the release examination, the same identification data declared when registering on the platform as positive cases (identification document, date of birth and telephone number) should be provided to avoid technical problems and delays in release.
[*]If the result is positive, the person has the possibility to repeat the examination procedure on day 8 or even 9, rushing to the same point indicated by the Ministry of Health on day 6, or be restricted until day 10 where he/she will be released without further examination.
It is stressed that social distancing and protection measures (double surgical mask, or protective mask type KN95 or FFP2) must be observed at the site of the examination.
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