Cabinet approves Covid test for arrivals from China, suggests all passengers wear mask

All passengers arriving from China will be required to present a negative PCR test as of Sunday, the council of ministers decided on Wednesday.

The decision came after Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela met the coronavirus advisory team earlier in the week and relayed their suggestions to the cabinet.

The team met to discuss the epidemiological outlook in Cyprus and the European Commission’s suggestions in light of the recent surge in Covid cases in China.

The cabinet decided that as of 5pm on Sunday January 15 all passengers arriving from China must present a negative PCR test performed within 48 hours of their departure. This includes both direct and connecting flights.

The ministry also recommended that the public use a protective mask and observe personal hygiene and protection measures on all flights to and from Cyprus, as well as in crowded indoor areas.

All existing measures were extended until March 15.

It was also decided that a tender will be announced for a company to undertake the collection and analysis of airport and airplane wastewater.

The ministry decided the continuation of the delivery of in vitro diagnostic medical technology products and vaccines for Covid-19 to be subject to a zero rate of VAT.

The cabinet also decided on the central management of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds in public and private hospitals contracted with the Health Insurance Organization (HIO) at the level of the administration of the ministry of health, including the maintenance of a special digital recording platform.

Hadjipantela was also authorised to appoint an ad-hoc ICU management committee, whose duties will concern monitoring, allocation, movement between hospitals and length of stay of cases in ICU beds.

The committee consists of the director of medical and public health services on behalf of the health ministry, Dr. George Mina representing private hospitals, Dr Andri Papastylianou on behalf of state health services organisation Okypy, and Dr Monica Kyriakou on behalf of the HIO.