Limassol cites decree after Safe Pass mishmash

The City of Limassol has weighed in on a recent confusion over Safe Pass for cruise passengers ashore, with officials citing verbatim the latest emergency law following reports that guests had not been allowed into local shops and restaurants.

“It has come to our attention that visitors arriving on a cruise ship to our town are not being welcomed in stores and dining venues without Safe Pass,” an official announcement said.

Reports in Limassol said cruise passengers coming ashore were not allowed to walk into shops or dine at restaurants around town due to having no Safe Pass to show at the door in order to gain access to those venues.

Safe Pass has been a controversial measure in the Republic of Cyprus, with local media reporting on incidents of noncompliance as well as public protests against the restriction.

Municipality officials rushed to clarify this week that the latest decree issued by the health ministry includes a provision for foreign guests who are permitted by law to enter restricted establishments as long as they present documents that are equivalent to Safe Pass.

A Safe Pass legally requires people over the age of 12 to have in possession physical proof they have been vaccinated with at least one dose three weeks prior, tested negative for the coronavirus during a rapid or PCR test conducted in the last 72 hours, or officially cleared by state authorities no more than six months since the last time they tested positive for COVID. An EU Digital COVID Certificate may also be used.

But non-residents flying or sailing to the south without any of the above items need only show their documents used at a port of entry when they entered the Republic of Cyprus, municipal officials said citing the decree.

According to the decree, non-residents “using Larnaca and Paphos Airports may present the Cyprus Flight Pass” while those “using legal sea points of entry, if they are cruise passengers they should have the proof they obtain from the cruise ship as disembarkment card and if they are passengers of recreational craft they should have the proof they obtain from their Marina Operator.”