CATEGORIES FOR VISITORS TO CYPRUS WEF 14/8

  

CATEGORIES FOR VISITORS TO CYPRUS - updated 12/8 - effective 14 August 2020

Category A – Low risk countries at the current stage

• European Union Member States:1) Austria, 2) Germany, 3) Denmark, 4) Estonia, 5) Ireland, 6) Latvia, 7) Lithuania, 8) Malta, 9) Hungary,  10) Slovakia, 11) Slovenia, 12) Finland

• Schengen Area Members: 1) Switzerland, 2) Iceland, 3) Lichtenstein, 4) Norway

• Third Countries:  1) Georgia, 2) Japan, 3) Canada, 4) New Zealand, 5) South Korea, 6) Thailand

Included in this category are countries with an effective reproduction (Rt) number lower than 1 or/and small number of new diagnoses (<1/100,000 inhabitants per day) or/and small or very small COVID-19 mortality (<5-10/100,000 inhabitants) or/and classification of sporadic cases or clusters of cases according to the WHO or/and at least satisfactory laboratory testing (>3000 tests/100,000 inhabitants).

It should be noted that passengers coming from Category A countries are not required to present a laboratory COVID-19 test certificate or go into self-isolation.

 

Category B - Countries with possibly low risk but greater uncertainty compared to Category A

• European Union Member States: 1) Belgium, 2) France, 3) Greece, 4) Spain, 5) Italy, 6) Croatia, 7) Netherlands, 8) Czech Republic, 9) Poland, 10) Portugal
• United Kingdom
• Small States:1) Andorra, 2) Monaco, 3) Vatican City, 4) San Marino
• Third Countries: 1) Australia, 2) Rwanda, 3) Tunisia, 4) Uruguay, 5) China

Included in this category are countries with an effective reproduction (Rt) number greater than 1 or/and number of new diagnoses <1/100,000 inhabitants per day or/and increased COVID-19 mortality (>10/100,000 inhabitants) or/and limited laboratory testing (<2000 tests/100,000 inhabitants) or lack of WHO classification.

It should be noted that passengers coming from Category B countries will be required to have undertaken a laboratory test no earlier than 72 hours prior to departure and to possess a Certificate showing negative PCR examination for the virus.

It is also clarified that passengers from Category B countries, falling into the following categories, may carry out the molecular examination upon arrival in the Republic:

a) Cypriot citizens and their family members (their alien spouses, underage children and parents),

b) all those legally residing in the Republic,

c) persons entitled to under the Vienna Convention,

d) persons, irrespective of nationality, whose countries of residence do not provide a laboratory testing service (public or private) to those wishing to travel to the Republic of Cyprus according to a relevant announcement.

It should be noted that the examination cost will be borne by those persons themselves and in addition, such persons should remain in self-isolation at home until the examination result is issued.

 

Category C – High-risk countries compared to categories A and B

• European Union Member States: 1) Bulgaria, 2) Sweden, 3) Luxembourg, 4) Romania
• Third Countries: 1) Algeria, 2) Serbia, 3) Morocco, 4) Montenegro

All countries not included in categories A or B are placed in this category. Some of the countries which are of high risk according to their epidemiological picture, are mentioned above.

In accordance with the Infectious Diseases Decree (No.30) of 2020, the entry into the Republic from Category C countries shall be allowed only for specific categories of citizens who have the possibility to choose whether to undergo a diagnostic test for COVID-19 upon their arrival in Cyprus or have with them a negative RT-PCR test certificate for COVID-19, undertaken no earlier than 72 hours prior to departure. It must be noted that such persons shall have to remain in a state of self-isolation for 14 days. Relevant sanitary instructions are available at the following link: https://www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/info.html.

With effect from 12 August, a PCR coronavirus test must also be taken 48 hours prior to the expiration of their self-isolation.   Results of the test must be sent to monada@mphs.moh.gov.cy.  The self-isolation will end if the result is negative.   The cost of the test must be paid by the people in self-isolation themselves.  A maximum price for these tests is €85pp.

For Category C, if the period of residency on Cyprus exceeds 4 days, then the person must self-isolate for 14 days.

It must be stressed that all passengers, regardless of country category, shall be obliged to file an application for the CyprusFlightPass within 24 hours prior to their departure flight. Moreover, in order to ensure public health and the monitoring of the epidemiological picture, a sample molecular laboratory testing of passengers on selected arriving flights will be carried out.

It is noted that the above categorization of countries shall take effect on 14 August 2020.