The Ministry of Health clarifies that: from 4 January, 23:00, all passengers aged 12 years and over arriving in the Republic of Cyprus are required to have a PCR laboratory test 48 hours before departure
- The decision applies to all passengers regardless of their vaccination history. - It is understood that the above requirement should also apply to passengers travelling on or after 4 January and who have completed a CyprusFlightPass within 48 hours before 4 January.
- It is recalled that on arrival all passengers, regardless of vaccination history, undergo a PCR laboratory test and the cost is to be borne by the passenger.
- In addition, with the exception of those proven to have received a booster dose of the vaccine, all other passengers must undergo a rapid antigen detection test for COVID-19 within 72 hours of their arrival.
- The above applies to passengers from all countries listed below:
- Member States of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Czech Republic, Spain, Sweden, Finland. - Small States: Andorra, Monaco, Monaco, Vatican City, San Marino. - Member States of the Schengen area: Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Liechtenstein, Norway. \N- Third countries: Australia, Egypt, Argentina, Armenia, Armenia, Georgia, United States of America, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Japan, Indonesia, Jordan, Israel, Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America, United States of America, United States of America, Japan, Indonesia, Jordan, Israel, Canada, Qatar, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Colombia, Kuwait, Belarus, Lebanon, Bahrain, Lebanon, New Zealand, South Korea, Oman, Oman, Ukraine, Uruguay, Peru, Rwanda, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Chile, Serbia, Ukraine, Rwanda.
Grey Category (Special Permission) countries.
For countries in the Grey Category, only the following categories of passengers are allowed to enter the Republic of Cyprus: (i) Cypriot citizens and their family members (their foreign spouses and their minor children), \N(ii) European citizens, citizens of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Switzerland, \N(iii) legal residents of the Republic, \N(iv) persons entitled to enter the Republic under the Vienna Convention, \N(v) persons of third country nationality, who are entitled to enter the Republic, provided that they hold approval for a special permit to enter the Republic, which is granted upon application to the Commission appointed by the Decision of the Council of Ministers dated 17 June 2020,
It is understood that all passengers (aged 12 years and over) travelling from grey category countries, irrespective of vaccination history, from 4 January and at 23.00 hrs:00 they are required to have a PCR laboratory test performed 48 hours prior to departure and on arrival (cost to be borne by the passenger).
In addition, passengers arriving in the Republic of Cyprus from Grey Category (Special Permission) countries remain under mandatory self-limitation or mandatory quarantine for fourteen (14) days or alternatively under mandatory self-limitation or mandatory quarantine for seven (7) days if they undergo again a molecular test for COVID-19 (at their own expense) on day 7 and have a negative laboratory result.
Taking into account the emerging data regarding the new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1 coronavirus.1.529 that was initially identified in Botswana and raised an alarm due to the large number of mutations it carries and to safeguard public health, as of 26 November 2021, the Ministry of Health informs that:
i) In addition to and without prejudice to the measures already in place, all persons entering the Republic of Cyprus, by air, regardless of their original country of departure and regardless of whether or not they hold an acceptable certificate of completed vaccination or an acceptable certificate of recovery from COVID-19 or a negative laboratory test on departure ,from 06 December 2021, (00:01 a.m.p.m.) until 10 January 2022, (23:59 p.m.) shall undergo PCR diagnostic testing for COVID-19 upon arrival at airports in the Republic of Cyprus. The cost of the PCR diagnostic test for COVID-19 will be paid by the passenger.
ii) The arrival and/or entry into the Republic of any person who, during the 14 days prior to his/her arrival in the Republic, has either resided in or transited through the territory of the countries is prohibited: - South Africa, - Namibia, - Lesotho, - Kingdom of Eswatini, - Zimbabwe, - Mozambique, - Malawi - Botswana
For more information on the persons exempted from the prohibition and the procedure to be followed please visit the link: https:/www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/uploads/26112021_apagorefsieisodouneametallaxi_EL.pdf
It is stressed that all passengers, regardless of country category, including those holding a valid vaccination certificate, are required to apply to CyprusFlightPass within 48 hours prior to the departure of their flight. In addition, for the purposes of safeguarding Public Health and monitoring the epidemiological picture, the Ministry of Health may carry out random laboratory COVID-19 molecular testing of passengers (including persons holding a vaccination certificate) on selected flights.
(AF)\NContents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO\NViews & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO\NSource
