Cyprus Latest News

Jan 2021 - Cyprus No 5 in top countries for Covid-19 control

Surreal kayak alone on the water after lockdown

Following a very strict 8 week lockdown when our borders closed on March 21st 2020, Cyprus started to lift movement restrictions in various phases, culminating in the re-opening of the borders to visitors from June 9th.

While other European countries opened their borders to most countries regardless of any restrictions, Cyprus opted to place all countries in categories.

Only Category A countries have been allowed into Cyprus without the need for a negative PCR certificate. Category B countries require a negative PCR certificate and passengers from Category C countries are not allowed entry, unless resident on the island.

Cyprus inevitably saw a spike in Covid-19 cases after the summer in line with the shockingly high numbers seen across Europe in the so-called second wave of the virus.

Cyprus's strong TRACK and TRACE policy could not cope and hospital numbers began to rise.

But after new restrictions were brought in from mid-November including a strict 3 week lockdown from January 10th, case numbers have fallen right back along with hospital numbers.

Restrictions are therefore being gradually lifted again.

Current Covid-19 Restrictions in Cyprus - at Feb 1st 2020

• Masks are COMPULSORY for everyone in ALL (indoor) public places including supermarkets, bakeries, shops etc. All staff serving the public must also wear masks in outdoor areas, for example restaurants, delivery drivers etc.

• Social distancing must be observed at all times and everyone should try to limit their contacts, wherever possible, to their immediate social "bubble."

• Citizens must ask for permission to leave their home via SMS up to a maximum of 2 outings per day and there is a curfew still in place from 9pm to 5am.

• All hospitality venues remain closed except for takeaway until March 1st at least.

• There are other restrictions in place for businesses in terms of number of people allowed in a space, which may not directly affect travellers, but we hope that travel will slowly become the norm again once summer arrives and the vaccination programme rolls out across the world.

Read how Cyprus tackled Covid-19 from March 2020 onwards on my special Coronavirus in Cyprus page.

Hot Cyprus Gossip

Apart from Covid-19, my newsletter will also include updates on:

• New arrivals - shops, restaurants, new products to the island.

• Major changes - like the ongoing renovation of old Paphos after the town became the European Capital of Culture in 2017.

• What's the latest hot gossip in the coffee shops?

• Will the Paphos shipwreck ever be moved? Not to mention the more recent one which ran aground close to the shore just off Sea Caves and Oniros cafe bar back in December 2011.

So keep up to date with Cyprus Travel Secrets.

Click on the links below for previous Cyprus latest news updates on Coronavirus.

Cyprus Latest News Coronavirus Pages:

Feb 2021 COVID-19

June 2020 COVID-19

April 2020 COVID-19