Coronavirus: Government tweaks country categories

Cyprus said on Monday it has downgraded Finland and upgraded Portugal in its classification of countries based on their epidemiological condition, effective from Thursday, March 18.

The classification affects travellers from those countries.

The health ministry said Finland has been moved from Orange to Red, while Portugal was upgraded from Red to Orange.

The categories are in line with the guidelines of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The health ministry ranks countries based on the weekly evaluation of the ECDC. In cases of countries not assessed by the ECDC, this evaluation is done by the health ministry.

Travellers from countries in the Orange category require a negative PCR test certificate not older than 72 hours prior to departure while those coming from Red category regions require two negative PCR tests, one within 72 hours before departure and another upon arrival in Cyprus. No self-isolation measures apply in this category.

Green category travellers have no restrictions.

Passengers from Grey, or special permit category, countries, must submit a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours before departure and must self-isolate upon arrival in accordance with the instructions of the health ministry.