Coronavirus: Mandatory quarantine for UK arrivals extended (Updated)

The mandatory seven-day quarantine in hotels of all arrivals from the UK has been extended until January 10, the health ministry announced on Saturday.

The original ministry decree brought in on December 21 had been in effect until January 5 following the detection of a mutated strain of Covid-19 in the UK.

“The decree which provides for the mandatory quarantine in hotels of the Republic for people arriving from the United Kingdom for a period of seven days, is renewed until January 10, 2021,” the ministry said. The seven-day hotel quarantine is followed by three days of self-isolation at home following a negative test.

The ministry added that it follows the instructions of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and in anticipation of the results of research into the possibility of the existence of this mutated strain in Cyprus.

Specialised tests have been carried out by the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics on samples of individuals who have been positively diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in order to evaluate the existence of this mutant strain.

This week the ECDC said in a report on the new strain which was first detected in the UK, the VOC 202012/01, that it has been associated with higher viral load, faster spread and higher transmissibility of up to 70 per cent.

“Having now been identified in various European countries, the new strain of the virus is thought to have contributed to some extent to the increase in cases and, consequently, to the increase in hospitalisations in Europe,” the ministry said.

In this context, the ECDC recommends that EU member states further strengthen and intensify laboratory tests on people traveling from the UK. Recommendations also focus on avoiding travel, noting that if travel cannot be avoided, these individuals should remain confined for a period of 10 days.

Persons arriving from the UK are tested upon arrival at Larnaca and Paphos airports and are transported to hotels for a mandatory seven-day self-isolation. Expenses are paid by the state. On the seventh day after arrival, passengers are tested again and if they test negative, they must continue to self-isolate at home for three more days.

Children up to 18 are not required to stay in hotels, they can self-isolate at home. They may remain at the hotel with their parents or guardian if it is not possible for them to self-isolate at home.

If a person tests positive upon arrival or on the seventh day, the Covid-19 management health protocol is applied, the health ministry said.