Airports to reopen June 9 in first phase
Cyprus airports will gradually begin to welcome flights and tourists from June 9 following three months of lockdown, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos said Friday.
The decision was approved by cabiet ministers on Friday with the airports opening in two phases from June 9-19 and then June 20.
The island’s two largest tourist markets – Britain – which accounts for a third of all arrivals – and Russia are not on the initial list of countries allowed entry due to coronavirus not being sufficiently contained.
Cyprus hotels will also be allowed to open from June 1 as the tourism-dependent holiday island emerges from tight COV ID-19 lockdown measures introduced in mid-March.
Scientists, based on the epidemiological data, have listed two categories of countries with which Cyprus will initially restore air connectivity.
Category A is Greece, Malta, Bulgaria, Norway, Austria, Finland, Slovenia, Hungary, Israel, Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Lithuania.
Category B: Switzerland, Poland, Romania, Croatia, Estonia, Czech Republic.
In the first phase of opening its airports, visitors will need to have tested negative for coronavirus within 72 hours of arriving in Cyprus with a certificate to prove it.
Cypriot residents can take the test upon arrival in Cyprus and will have to self-isolate until the result is known, said Karousos.
From June 20 people arriving from Category A countries will not need to present a health certificate for COVID-19.
But it will still be necessary to have taken a coronavirus test that is negative for the disease if arriving from Category B countries, said Karousos.
Karousos said commercial flights from countries will not be allowed unless they are repatriation flights for Cypriot residents returning.
Cypriots will need a health certificate showing they are free from coronavirus or they can be tested in Cyprus where they will be quarantined for a day in a government facility until the test result is known.
Costs for the test and quarantine will be at the passenger’s expense.
In countries where the authorities do not provide a lab test, coronavirus tests can be provided on arrival to Cyprus, said Karousos.
He said the Health Ministry will continue to evaluate the epidemiological data of other countries to update the list.
And from May 25 Cyprus will end compulsory quarantine for those entering the country and will be allowed to selfisolate at home.
Cyprus issued a commercial flight ban on March 21 as part of lockdown measures.
Bilateral agreements
Government COVID-19 advisor molecular virologist Dr Peter Karayiannis said bilateral agreements between Cyprus, Greece and Israel in the first phase of opening up to tourists, could be extended to include other countries which have recorded similar epidemiological progress.
Regarding countries in southern Europe that have been hit hardest by the pandemic, Karayiannis estimated that they may present a much better epidemiological picture within July and therefore it may be possible for a tourist flow to and from Cyprus.
“As we speak in Italy and Spain, the rate of new cases and deaths is dropping. So very soon they will be at the same level as Germany was when it started exiting its lockdown.”
To prevented COVID-19 cases coming into Cyprus, the virologist said thermal cameras will be installed at all airports, which will check passengers before boarding.
“Therefore, anyone sporting a fever will not be able to board the flight, and the same will apply to passengers travelling from Cyprus,” said Karayiannis.
Regarding hotels, Karayiannis said that if guests keep their distance during breakfast or lunch, then there is no particular risk, while people are outdoors there is no risk of transmission at all.
Rebooked holiday no extra cost
Meanwhile, MPs on Friday approved a law allowing the state to guarantee tourists who booked and paid for a Cyprus holiday, but were unable to come due to lockdown, can reschedule at no extra cost.
The bill allows the state to guarantee vouchers to be issued by tour operators to tourists who missed out on their holidays due to the lockdown imposed to stem the spread of COVID-19 in March.
The bill was voted in with 34 votes in favour, 1 against while 17 MPs abstained.
With the law approved, the state will guarantee vouchers worth around EUR 80 mln.
According to the note accompanying the bill, the new legislation grants the right to tour agents, hotels and other tourism-related enterprises to issue state guaranteed credit notes to holidaymakers who have already prepaid for their holiday but saw their packages cancelled due to the COVID19 pandemic.
The government bill allows visitors to reschedule their holidays, as will not lose the money paid for their package deal that had to be cancelled.
Holidaymakers are also guaranteed their holiday or their money back even if the tour company goes bust in the meantime.
According to the law’s provisions, tourists will be given a voucher (credit note), which can be redeemed up until the end of 2021.