Cyprus prepares school COVID-19 safety protocols for the new academic year

Cyprus health authorities are finalizing a comprehensive pandemic management plan for the upcoming autumn-winter period, with a specific focus on school safety protocols. Following consultations with the scientific advisory committee, Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela announced that all students and faculty members must undergo a mandatory COVID-19 rapid test within 48 hours prior to the start of the new academic year. This mass testing requirement serves as a key measure to evaluate the current health landscape in educational institutions.

The government intends to publish the full set of school regulations before classes begin to ensure parents and students are informed. While the Ministry of Health has moved away from the idea of continuous regular testing, officials are still deliberating on the necessity of mandatory mask-wearing in classrooms, including potential requirements for elementary school students. The draft plan, which has been shared with the Ministry of Education, teachers' unions, and parental organizations, aims to address the potential for a new winter wave of infections as identified by scientific advisors.