The Council of Ministers has approved a new Action Plan for the smooth operation of flights and the airports’ operation.

In statements, Transport, Communications and Works Minister Yiannis Karousos said that the action plan was submitted to the Cabinet by the Ministry, following a decision of the Inter-Ministerial Committee that was set up to evaluate the measures in force in relation to the current epidemiological data.

The current measures implemented at Larnaca and Paphos International Airports will remain in force until 28 February, he said while the new action plan will come into effect from 1st March.

The Minister said that as of March 1, the categorization of countries based on their epidemiological risk will change and will include three categories with the following colour code: Green, Red and Grey Category. Vaccinated or passengers who have recovered, regardless of nationality and country of departure, are exempt from the obligation to present a negative result following laboratory testing, self-isolation or quarantine and a special permit.

"It is understood that these people should have a valid vaccination/recovery certificate”, he said. Regarding recovery certificates, he said those accepted are European or equivalent certificates from countries that are related to the European Digital Certificate and are connected to it.

For traveling purposes, he said passengers over 18 years of age should have received the booster shot in case of the two doses of COVID-19 vaccine or the second dose in case of the single-dose vaccine.

It is noted that for travel purposes, vaccination certificates for passengers, aged 18 years and over, who have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or the single-dose vaccine, are only accepted if 9 months have not elapsed since being administered with the second dose.

In addition, for travel purposes, passengers aged 18 years and under, are considered to have completed their vaccination regimen if they have received the 2nd dose in case of a two-dose vaccine or one dose in the case of a single-dose vaccine.

Minister Karousos further said that passengers who have not been vaccinated and do not possess a valid vaccination or recovery certificate, irrespective of nationality, will enter the Republic of Cyprus from any country of departure provided they meet the requirements of the relevant category their country of origin is classified (e.g. presentation of a negative laboratory test, self-isolation/quarantine,  issuance of a special permit, etc.).