Press Releases

The Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, pursuant to paragraph 2.2 (p) of the Quarantine Decree (Measures to Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus COVID-19) Decree (No. 14) of 2021, issues the following guidelines:

1.    PublicTransport  

1.1. The maximum number of passengers that can be transported by Public Transport (Regular Passenger Buses with fare per passenger, Buses with E License, Buses used for shuttle services to and from airports, as well as private buses with road license, in all Districts of Cyprus, is designated to up to 50% of the capacity of each bus, with the exception of buses for which a special permit is granted by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, in which a higher percentage of capacity is designated.

1.2. The maximum number of passengers that can be transported by buses that only transport students, to and from their educational institutions (public and private), in all Districts of Cyprus, is designated to up to 50% of the capacity of each bus, with the exception of buses for which a special permit is granted by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, in which a higher percentage of capacity is designated.

1.3. The maximum number of Passengers that buses with a Road Use License for a large family can transport is set at 100% of the capacity of each bus.

1.4. The maximum number of passengers that taxis can transport is 50% of the taxi’s capacity specified in the Road Use License. Where 50% is not an integer number, the number is rounded, with the exception of taxis for which a special permit is granted by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, in which a higher percentage of capacity is designated.

2.    Private Transport

2.1. Private vehicles can be boarded by members of the same family (household), including minor children of the family, depending on the capacity of the vehicle, without the use of a mask.  

2.2. In cases of transportation by vehicle of persons from different households, up to three (3) persons, including the driver, are allowed to board the vehicle, with the use of a mask.

2.3. For travelling for work purposes with a private vehicle with a capacity of more than five (5) persons (e.g. construction workers, transporters, etc.), up to four (4) persons, including the driver, are allowed to board the vehicle, with the use of a mask.

2.4. For travelling for work purposes with a private vehicle with a capacity up to five (5) persons, up to three (3) persons, including the driver, are allowed to board the vehicle, with the use of a mask.

3.    Additional instructions for Public Transport

3.1. Where a bus does not have a driver's box and a protective membrane separating it from the entrance of passengers, the seats behind the driver as well as the first seat on the left (tour guide’s seat - where there is one) must remain empty.  

3.2. All necessary measures must be taken to avoid overcrowding during boarding and disembarking.

3.3. There must be a liquid hand sanitizer at the entrance of each bus for use by all passengers.  

3.4. Buses must be cleaned and disinfected frequently, mandatorily before the start of the service and during the day. Cleaning/disinfection should be done at least every four routes and, where possible, cleaning/disinfection should be done at the end of each route. Cleaning/disinfection should be done carefully, especially on surfaces that are often touched, such as handles, metal surfaces, seat belts, rails, etc., with the use of disinfectants and materials recommended by the Ministry of Health.

3.5. At each bus stop, at the end of each route and at each break, the bus doors remain open, as well as the windows and skylights, if there are any.

3.6. The buses referred to in paragraph 1.2 of this announcement, in addition to the general guidelines for the cleaning and disinfecting of the buses mentioned above, must be disinfected before and after the transfer of students. 

3.7. It is recommended that students sit in a predetermined seat daily, where it is possible.

3.8. It is also recommended that students who are in the same class or are siblings sit next to each other.

3.9. The buses must not use air conditioning systems with air recycling and must keep windows and skylights open.

3.10. The use of a mask by employees and passengers on all regular passenger buses with a fare per passenger, as well as on all means of public transport (taxis, tour buses, shuttle services to and from airports) regardless of age, continues to be mandatory in all Districts.

The above measures are implemented from the time of their publication on the official website of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works.

MPO/SCH