All Covid-related measures and travel restrictions to Cyprus’ ports and airports will be lifted from Wednesday, 1 June the island’s Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos announced following a cabinet meeting in Nicosia that approved the proposal by his ministry.
According to the Ministry of Health, masks will no longer be required at indoor spaces as of June 1, all travellers arriving into Cyprus, regardless of country of origin, will not be required to present a valid certificate of vaccination or recovery or a negative PCR or rapid test but the use of masks at airports is still being discussed.
Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela presented the suggestions of the members of the Scientific Advisory Committee agreeing it was epidemiologically safe to bring back travel, discussing the remaining COVID-19 measures, Kathimerini reported.
“Passengers will no longer have to wear a mask when arriving at an airport or port from Wednesday. However, travellers should check with airlines as they may impose their own regulations, depending on their destination,” said Health Ministry spokesperson Konstantinos Athanasiou.
Mask-wearing would still be mandatory in hospitals and care homes, while a mask mandate for public transport remains in place until further notice.
It was recommended the public wear a mask in crowded places or if they belong to a vulnerable group.
The cabinet also decided to allow two visits a day for patients being treated in hospitals, on the provision that visitors carry a 24-hour rapid or 48-hour PCR negative test.
“This means a return to normality in travel and the tourism industry,”Minister Karousos said.
“Flight capacity was at very high levels, with passenger traffic in May estimated at 77 per cent of the corresponding period in 2019, before the pandemic – i.e. an average of 30,000 passengers a day.”
“Of course, efforts are under way to increase this rate and capacity even more and the results are fairly positive. We will not only reach but surpass the target we had set as regards flight capacity and the number of passengers,” he added.
