NICOSIA, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus on Wednesday removed all remaining COVID-19 restrictions, including the indoor face mask mandate and all entry requirements at airports and ports, the Health Ministry said in a statement.
The government made the decision last week citing the improved epidemiological situation in the country and the COVID-19 advisory group's recommendations.
According to the Health Ministry's latest weekly pandemic update, the official daily count of new coronavirus cases has dropped to below 250 from close to 1,000 a month ago in a population of less than a million.
The ministry said that the wearing of face masks will no longer be mandatory indoors, except in high-risk areas, such as hospitals, clinics and care homes.
The ministry still recommends the use of face masks in crowded places by people belonging to vulnerable groups and by those who come in contact with high-risk individuals.
In a separate statement, the Transport Ministry said that all COVID-19 measures at the country's airports and ports were lifted on Wednesday morning.
Travelers will no longer be required to present a COVID-19 vaccination or recovery certificate on arrival. Coronavirus testing upon arrival has also been scrapped.
The government has also deactivated its action plan for the smooth operation of the country's airports and ports, which according to Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos was a sign of return to normal.
He said that the removal of restrictions should encourage travel and contribute to an increase in the number of tourists, as Cyprus is making an all-out effort to return to pre-coronavirus levels of tourism. ■
