The Cypriot authorities have updated the national and entry rules imposed as a precautious measure to spare public health from COVID-19 infections.
According to the new regulation, vaccinated passengers and those recovered from the virus are allowed to travel to Cyprus if their country of origin is considered epidemiologically safe. The new national travel rules will become effective on March 1, SchengenVisaInfo reports.
The same regulation reveals that entry rules will depend on the countries’ epidemiological situation, divided into three categories provided; green, red, and grey. In addition, fully vaccinated travellers and those that recovered from COVID-19 will be exempted from quarantine or testing requirements that apply to their country of origin, meaning that they can enter the country by presenting the required documents, thus the EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate, regardless of the category their country of origin belongs.
Furthermore, the new rules that enter force on Monday, January 24, the isolation time has been shortened from 14 to ten days for people who are close contacts of an infected person. In addition, the isolation time can be abolished if a negative PCR test is provided on the seventh day of isolation.
Those who have received their second vaccination or a booster shot are exempted from the quarantine requirement.
Nonetheless, arrivals from the green category are required to present a PCR test performed 72 hours of departure or 24 hours for those presenting a rapid antigen test. However, red category passengers will be subject to double testing requirements; pre-departure and a PCR test upon arrival, both covered by the passenger.
Moreover, the approved vaccination certificates include only those issued by the public authorities of the respective country and if the vaccine concerns Janssen, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, Sputnik V, Sinopharm, Sinovac, Covaxin, Sputnik Light (only as a booster dose in basic vaccination scheme) and Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19.
As of March, passengers will be exempted from the requirement to isolate in tourist accommodations, covering the costs.
Passengers 18 and older are required to present a vaccination certificate showing they received a booster shot in the last nine months since they received their second shot (or one-shot for those vaccinated with single-shot Janssen) otherwise, they will be considered as unvaccinated.
Those with only two shots of the anti-COVID vaccine will be allowed to travel to Cyprus if their second dose was administered within the last nine months. In addition, children under the age of 18 will be exempt from testing and self-isolation if they are fully vaccinated.
The validity of the recovery certificate has been set at 180 days from the first positive diagnosis.