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Further relaxation of COVID restrictions in force from today

08/03/2022 12:19

Cyprus enters a new phase of relaxations of COVID measures from today, Tuesday with a safe pass is no longer required in certain areas and the quarantine period is reduced to 7 days from 10.

Michalis Hadjipantela, Minister of Health, said after the Cabinet`s meeting last week that infected citizens could exit the isolation on the 7th day if they have a negative rapid or PCR test and this enters into force on March 8th.

Also, close contacts of patients, who could not enter isolation, i.e. because they had to take care of a minor, they could also undergo a rapid or PCR test the day that the infected person is exiting his/her quarantine and if the result is also negative, they could also end their isolation.

As regards the safepass, the Cabinet decided the new categorisations of various establishments according to a risk factor and the citizens will know what the protocol for entrance is for these places.

The Health Minister said that there will be four categories of high risk, medium risk, low risk and places where the presence of citizens is for a short period of time and therefore no safepass will be needed.

The Minister said that beginning on March 8, the capacity in retail sales stores, in casinos and gyms is increased while the capacity in wedding and christening gatherings is also increased to 500 people given that the measure for 1 square meter per person is maintained.

The Cabinet also decided to lift the school parades’ restriction and the Minister said that a protocol will be drafted with instructions.

Hadjipantela said that the stable and clear improvement of epidemiological indices, the decrease in hospitalisations and in the positivity rate prove that the measures the government took to curb COVID spread have yielded results.

But he noted that the road ahead is still long and cooperation and adherence to measures are needed so that we will all be able to take further steps and return to our normality.