COVID: Cyprus To Welcome Vaccinated British Tourists From May

Cyprus will open its borders to vaccinated Britons from the beginning of May – even though UK Government restrictions on foreign travel will still be in place.

Nearly a million people in the UK have received two doses of the jab, with the military helping in the UK's nationwide rollout of the vaccine.

The Cypriot government has said that people who have had both jabs can travel to the country without restrictions from 1 May.

The deputy tourism minister in Cyprus said Britons who have been given vaccines by the European Medicines Agency can enter the country without the need for a negative test or to quarantine.

Tourists would be required to have had their second dose at least seven days before travel, the minister added.

However, the date Cyprus has set to open its borders to UK tourists is still more than two weeks ahead of the earliest date set by the UK Government for people to leave the country on holiday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the earliest Britons are allowed to jet away for foreign leisure travel is May 17.

Cyprus is still implementing COVID-19 restrictions, with a 9am-5pm curfew and the wearing of masks compulsory both indoors and outdoors, unless exercising.

Additionally, in Cyprus, you are required to call a government phone line with a specified reason for permission to leave the house.

Earlier this week, the vaccine rollout started at British Forces Cyprus.

The UK has two Sovereign Base Areas on the island which cover 98 square miles.

According to the Sovereign Base Areas Administration, 3,140 British military personnel, plus dependents, live there. 

Cover image: Sunset on a beach in Cyprus (Picture: PA).