The ministry of health issued some clarifications on the upcoming measure relaxations that were announced earlier on Thursday.

The new measures will see the curfew moved from midnight to 1am from 29 May, and completely scrapped from June 10.

For now, the SafePass will remain in place, with anyone aged 12 and older required to carry either a vaccination certificate showing they received at least one dose of the anti-coronavirus vaccine three weeks prior, or proof they contracted the virus in the last six months.

In a slight shift away from the original announcement regarding the SafePass that provided for proof of vaccinations, previous infection or testing within 72 hours, Thursday’s clarifications referred only to the two former requirements as the basics, and in case neither of the two could be provided, and “only as a temporary solution,” until further vaccinations, the ministry said, then they must hold a negative PCR or rapid test taken up to 72 hours prior. This appears to imply that the option for testing as valid for use for the SafePass, might at some future point be removed.

Members of the public must be able to present a SafePass when visiting the following places:

  • Indoor areas in restaurants, cafes, bars etc
  • Places of worship
  • Indoor theatres, cinemas and performance spaces
  • Malls and retail shopping centres
  • Weddings, christenings and funerals
  • Gyms, dance studios and other sports venues as announced by the Cyprus Sports Organisation
  • Care homes, nursing homes, rehabilitation centres
  • Hotels and tourist establishments
  • Conferences and trade fairs
  • Casinos

No SafePass will be required to visit the following places:

  • Outdoor areas in restaurants, cafes, bars etc.
  • Hairdressers, beauty salons
  • Banks
  • Private and public customer service departments
  • Betting shops
  • Farmers markets, supermarkets, bakeries, butcher shops, fishmongers, greengrocers, mini-markets, kiosks and pharmacies
  • Beaches
  • Outdoor picnic areas, dams and zoos

The physical presence of persons indoors is set at 50 per cent of the capacity of each indoor venue.

Between June 1 and 14, wedding or christening lunches/dinners will be allowed at restaurants, hotels or other events spaces as long as indoor events are attended by up to 150 guests and outdoor events by up to 280.

More guests will be allowed between June 15 and 30, with 250 allowed for indoor events, 350 for outdoor.

During the entire month, cocktail parties and receptions can only be held outdoors and attended by up to 250 guests.

Those wanting to organise a wedding or christening lunch/dinner at their home must provide proof of the event (e.g. invitation) as well as the square footage of their house, in order to determine the maximum number of guests allowed according to protocols.

Data should be sent electronically to [email protected] for approval.

From June 1, the number of people allowed to gather in homes will increase to 20, including permanent residents and minors.

On the same date, bars and restaurants will also be allowed to open up their indoor areas.

Moreover, from June 10, night clubs will be allowed to resume operations, but the health ministry has not clarified whether dancing will be allowed.

The 50 per cent restriction on the physical presence of employees will also be lifted on June 10.

From June 1, all group afterschool lessons for children under 18 are allowed, based on the relevant health protocols. All other social and extracurricular activities will also be allowed from the same day for children under 18, with everyone over 12 required to hold a negative Covid test up to 72 hours old.

Children under 18 will also be allowed to participate in social and extracurricular activities outdoors, with a weekly PCR or rapid test still mandatory for everyone aged 12 and over.

Campsites will open on June 16, also meaning that summer camps and summer schools for children will be allowed, the ministry said.

Lastly, playgrounds and amusement parks will be allowed to open on June 1 as well, but events such as children’s birthday parties will not be allowed until June 16.