Coronavirus: Poland, Netherlands among countries downgraded

Four countries, including the Netherlands, Poland and Iceland, were downgraded in new travel guidelines issued by the health ministry on Monday.

According to the announcement, Lichtenstein was downgraded from the green to the orange category, while Iceland, Poland and the Netherlands were downgraded to the red category.

Meanwhile South Korea was moved from the red to the orange category.

The changes will be in force as of Thursday.

Meanwhile, following a cabinet decision on October 15, Oman was added to the categorisation of countries, in the red category based on the epidemiological data.

The ministry added that the country’s vaccination certificates are accepted by the republic.

Green category countries include Italy, Malta, Vatican City, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, France, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Czech Republic, Andorra, Norway, Japan, Australia, Qatar, China (including Hong Kong, Macau), Bahrain, Uruguay, Rwanda, and Chile are in the orange category.

The health ministry reiterated that passengers coming from Green countries need not present a test nor self-isolate, while those coming from Orange category countries are required to have a negative PCR laboratory test within 72 hours before departure.

Passengers coming from the Red countries require a test within 72 hours before departure and one upon arrival in the Republic, cost to be covered by them.

Fully vaccinated passengers can travel to the island from any country, without having the get tested or self isolate. The exclusion concerns passengers who have recovered from Covid-19 in the last 180 days and hold a valid EU Digital Covid certificate.

Countries not listed in the Green, Orange, and Red categories are considered to be in the grey category where special permission to enter Cyprus is needed.