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The Council of Ministers has approved the Action Plan- which will allow the gradual resumption of fligths into Cyprus. The Action Plan will come into effect on the 1st of March 2021.

The Acton Plan entails that ountries will be categorized on the basis of weekly reports and assessment of the European Centre for Prevention and Control of Diseases (ECDC). For states which are not not assessed by the ECDC, the assessment will be carried out by the Cyprus Ministry of Health.

In compliance with the categorization of states carried out by the European Centre for Prevention and Control of Diseases (ECDC), the classification of states will be replaced as follows:

1. The classification of countries into Categories shall be modified as follows:

i. Category A is replaced by the Green Category, without any restrictions in force, as is the case today.

ii.  Category B is replaced by the Orange Category, in which the presentation of a negative PCR laboratory testing is required within 72 hours  before departure, as is the case today.

iii. Category C is replaced by the Red Category, in which a double laboratory testing is required, that is, a negative PCR examination within 72 hours prior to departure and yet another laboratory PCR testing upon arrival in Cyprus. No self-isolation/quarantine measures are valid in this category.

iv. iv. Special Permit Category (Grey), in which passengers should present a laboratory PCR test within 72 hours prior to departure. In this category, measures of self-isolation/quarantine shall apply in line with the instructions by the Health Minister.

2. Classified in the Green, Orange and Red categories are the following countries:

i. European Union Countries
ii. Countries of the European Economic Area, including the United Kingdom and Switzerland
iii. Countries included in the list of third countries of the European Council
iv. Third countries (Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Lebanon, UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Belarus)

3. Any country not included in the above shall be classified in the Grey – special permit category. In this specific category, the procedure for obtaining a special entry permit to the Republic shall be implemented for third country nationals.

4. The passengers below may choose to undergo a laboratory examination upon their arrival in the Republic of Cyprus:

i. Citizens of Cyprus and members of their family (including their foreign spouses and underage children).
ii. Persons lawfully residing in Cyprus.
iii. Persons entitled to enter the Republic of Cyprus in accordance with the Vienna Convention.
In this case, the passengers of the Red Category and Special Permit Category who are entitled to a laboratory examination upon arrival, shall remain, according to the instructions of the Health Ministry, in compulsory selfisolation, unless they present a negative PCR laboratory test within 72 hours before departure.

5. The Ministry of Health shall continue random checks in passengers arriving in Cyprus, based on the epidemiological criteria of the countries in which the flights to the Republic of Cyprus originate.

6. Vaccinated persons, as they will be exempt from carrying out a laboratory examination.

7. Until the Action Plan takes affect and as of the 15th of January 2021, a transition period will be implemented, during which all countries below may be classified in one of the four categories, i.e. Green, Orange, Red, Grey-Special Permit.

i. European Union member states
ii. Countries of the European Economic Area including the United Kingdom and Switzerland
iii. Countries included in the list of third countries of the European Council
iv. Third countries (Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Lebanon, UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Belarus)

8. During the transitional stage, the assessment of all countries shall be undertaken by the Ministry of Health as per present practice.