Coronavirus: all arrivals from UK must self-isolate from Monday, irrespective of PCR status

Cyprus announced on Sunday that all passengers arriving from the UK must self-isolate for 14 days or 10 days provided they undergo a negative PCR test within that period.

The health ministry made the announcement after a number of EU countries banned UK flights when Britain said it had found a new strain of coronavirus.

The isolation requirement for passengers arriving at Larnaca or Paphos airports is irrespective of the PCR test arrivals must already have or undergo when they land, in the case of Cypriot nationals.

“This measure is complementary to the measure that is already in force for the presentation of a negative certificate of molecular test (PCR test) not older than 72 hours,” the ministry said, adding that the sampling of passengers at airports would also continue.

If symptoms occur during the self-isolation period people must call a doctor, the ministry said.

The regulation will take effect from Monday 6am.

“The new data is being evaluated by the scientific advisory committee and any new suggestions that may come up will be announced,” it concluded.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.