Cyprus Moves UK to Red Category – Self-Isolation No Longer Required for Arrivals From This Country
Cyprus’ Epidemiological Monitoring Unit of the Ministry of Health, in accordance with the decision of the Council of Ministers, has decided to establish a new categorization of countries according to the COVID-19 situation prevailing in the countries.
The Ministry of Health has decided to move the United Kingdom from the grey category into the red one. Based on this decision, UK passengers arriving in Cyprus are not required to quarantine upon their arrival. However, all persons coming from the UK must present a negative PCR test 72 hours before departure and a second negative test upon their arrival in Cyprus, the Health Ministry informs.
Apart from the UK, the list of other countries that have moved from the grey to the red category includes Armenia, Bahrein, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Russia, Serbia, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, and the United States of America.
The countries included in the updated list, more precisely the ones that have moved from the grey to the red category, will experience gradual lifting of temporary non-essential travel restrictions within the EU.
The decision for a steady restart plan, the re-opening of the airports, and the new categorization of countries will be effective starting from April 1, 2021.
Based on a country’s epidemiological risk, the Ministry of Health has divided the countries into Green, Orange, Red, and Grey categories, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.
The updated list announced by the government based on the epidemiological risk is as follows:
Green Category represents countries with low risk and includes Schengen Member Iceland, and four third countries, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia.
All passengers coming from these countries do not need to submit a Coronavirus test certificate of self-isolation. It was previously reported that passengers from this category must undergo a second PCR test upon their arrival in Cyprus. However, as of April 1, no restriction will not apply to this category.
Orange Category represents countries with relatively low risk and includes EU Member Portugal and three third countries, China, South Korea, and Thailand
The Ministry notes that passengers from these countries must undergo a PCR test 72 hours before departure and submit a negative test result certificate upon arrival in Cyprus.
Cypriot citizens, legal residents in the Republic, entitled persons who enter under the Vienna Convention, or persons whose home countries do not provide testing services might undergo the molecular examination after entering Cyprus and pay themselves for the examination costs, the report reads.
Red Category represents countries with increased risk and includes
- EU Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Croatia, Luxemburg, Romania, Spain, Italy, Greece, Malta, Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, Finland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Ireland
- Microstates: Andorra, Monaco, Vatican City, San Marino
- Schengen associated countries: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway
- Third countries: UK, Israel, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Belarus, Qatar, Serbia, United States of America, Armenia, Georgia, Bahrein, and Rwanda
All persons entering Cyprus from any country in this category must undergo a PCR test 72 hours before departure and a second test after entering Cyprus.
Grey Category represents countries with special entry permission.
Only Cypriot citizens and family members, EU citizens and EEA citizens, legal residents, entitled persons by the Vienna Convention, and persons with special permission issued by the Republic of Cyprus are allowed to enter the country from areas under this category.
All persons arriving from any of the Grey Category countries have to stay self-isolated for two weeks. The ones that provide a negative COVID-19 test on the tenth day are not required to quarantine any longer.
