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COVID19: Lithuania, Sweden, Belgium, Serbia turn red

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Cyprus safest green travel category is shrinking, with only 11 countries from which tourists can enter the island without restrictions, following the Delta variant taking a grip.

According to the island’s latest update of its safe travel list, just seven EU member states are left in the green category after Austria, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Latvia dropped out, falling to orange.

The only country promoted to the green list was Croatia.

Norway, Lichtenstein, North Macedonia, and Canada were also demoted from green to orange.

Overall, only 11 countries are left in Cyprus’ green category, with the majority in the red needing double testing.

Meanwhile, four countries Lithuania, Sweden, Belgium, and Serbia were relegated to the red from orange due to their worsening epidemiological data.

Cyprus is also suffering from the fourth wave of coronavirus, with record infection rates reaching four digits earlier in July, powered by the more contagious Delta variant.

The changes come into effect on Thursday, 19 August.

Under the colour-coded system, there is no mandatory quarantine for tourists entering Cyprus from the EU.

Cyprus keeps its doors open to vaccinated tourists, regardless of their country of origin, to boost arrivals that plunged 84.1% last year.

Tourists allowed unconditional entry must have a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Moderna and Janssen.

Russia’s SputnikV and China’s Sinopharm are also accepted vaccines by Cyprus.

Regardless of category, unvaccinated tourists staying for more than a week must get tested on the seventh day of their vacation.

GREEN

Under the COVID assessment scheme, low-risk countries currently classified in the green category are:

European Union: 1) Croatia, 2) Germany, 3) Hungary, 4) Poland, 5) Romania, 6) Slovakia, 7) Czech Republic

Third Countries: 1) Australia, 2) Jordan, 3) New Zealand, 4) Singapore

ORANGE

Orange countries are those of higher risk than green.

Passengers must have undergone a PCR laboratory test within 72 hours before departure and have a certificate proving they tested negative for the virus.

European Union: 1) Austria, 2) Greece, 3) Italy, 4) Bulgaria, 5) Slovenia, 6) Luxembourg, 7) Latvia, 8) Finland

Schengen Area: 1) Liechtenstein, 2) Norway

Small States: 1) Vatican City

Third Countries: 1) Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2) Qatar, 3) China (including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan), 4) Bahrain, 5) Saudi Arabia, 6) North Macedonia, 7) Canada

RED

This category includes countries of higher risk than orange.

Passengers coming from red category countries are required: a) to prove a negative PCR test carried out under 72 hours before departure, and b) undergo another PCR test upon arrival in Cyprus. The cost of the test is charged to the individual.

European Union: 1) France, 2) Denmark, 3) Estonia, 4) Ireland, 5) Spain, 6) Malta, 7) Netherlands, 8) Portugal, 9) Sweden, 10) Lithuania, 11) Belgium

Small states: 1) Andorra, 2) Monaco, 3) San Marino

Schengen Area: 1) Switzerland, 2) Iceland

Third Countries: 1) Azerbaijan, 2) Egypt, 3) Albania, 4) Armenia, 5) Georgia, 6) United Arab Emirates, 7) United States of America, 8) United Kingdom, 9) Japan, 10) Israel, 11) Kuwait, 12) Belarus, 13) Lebanon, 14) Montenegro, 15) Moldova, 16) Brunei, 17) Moldova, 18) South Korea, 19) Ukraine, 20) Russia, 21) Serbia

GREY

Arrivals are allowed entry after acquiring special permission, only if they are Cypriot citizens or entitled to enter, such as people with a work permit.

Passengers must undergo a coronavirus test under 72 hours before their trip and have a certificate they tested negative for Covid-19.

Grey category passengers must remain in self-isolation for 14 days or seven if they choose to carry out another coronavirus PCR test with a negative result on the seventh day.