Israeli tourists wishing to visit Cyprus will now have to take a mandatory coronavirus tests 72 hours before the arrival, the English-language daily paper Cyprus Mail reported Thursday.
The move comes after Cypriot Health Ministry downgraded Israel from Category A to Category B, indicating a high rate of coronavirus spread in the country.
As part of the country's attempt to revive the tourism industry rocked by the global coronavirus lockdown, Cyprus has allowed the nationals of 19 countries, among them Israel, to enter the state's borders starting June 9.
At the moment, all those headed for Cyprus must take a coronavirus test 72 hours prior to entering the country. Starting June 20, however, arrivals from countries with low COVID-19 spread, marked as Category A, will not be required to get tested ahead of the arrival.
Category A countries include Greece, Malta, Bulgaria, Norway, Finland, Austria, Slovenia, Denmark, Germany, Hungary and Lithuania.
Category B countries include Switzerland, Poland, Romania, Croatia, Estonia, Czechia and now, Israel.
The Cyprus Tourism Organization in Israel told Ynet that Israel might soon be upgraded as Category A if the resurgence of COVID-19 in the country will subside.
Last month, Cyprus pledged to cover all costs patients who would contract coronavirus while on vacation on the eastern Mediterranean island nation.
The Cypriot government said it will cover lodging, food, drink and medication for COVID-19 patients and their families. Patients will only have to pay for the taxi ride to the airport and the flight back home.