The authorities of the Republic of Cyprus on Monday cancel the categorization of countries on an epidemic basis and cancel the CyprusFlightPass form, which was previously mandatory for all air passengers arriving on the island, which contained detailed information about vaccination or covid disease. This decision was made on April 7 by the cabinet of ministers of the island state as part of the program to ease restrictive measures, the first stage of which was put into effect on April 11, and the second is being introduced today.

According to the new protocol for travelers, which came into effect at midnight, there are no longer categories of countries depending on the degree of spread of coronavirus infection in them. This means that for non-coronavirus-infected guests from many countries of the former gray zone, the need for self-isolation disappears. For passengers flying to Cyprus, it is enough to have certificates of either having had a covid or confirming vaccination with AstraZeneca (Vaxzervia, COVISHIELD, SKBio), Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson&Johnson/Janssen, Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac), Sinopharm (BBIBPCOVID-19), Sinovac (CoronaVac), Covaxin, Novavax Nuvaxovid COVID-19, CovaVax and Sputnik Light, the last of these vaccines being recognized by the Cypriot authorities only as a booster to basic vaccination.

Fully vaccinated are those air passengers 18 years of age and older who have not exceeded 270 days (9 months) after being vaccinated with a second dose of a two-component vaccine and a single dose of a single-component vaccine. Otherwise, they will need a booster dose - either a third or a second, depending on the number of components of the original antiviral drug. Unvaccinated travelers will have to undergo a diagnostic test in the country of departure, and this can be either a molecular PCR test valid for 72 hours or a rapid antigen test with a 24-hour validity period.

From Monday, Cyprus also opens free access to all shopping areas, that is, residents and guests of the island can now visit any stores and shopping centers without having to present the SafePass form with QR codes to the controllers at the entrance.