The decision applies to 16 EU countries as well as Switzerland, Norway and Israel, says Cyprus Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos according to the Cyprus Mail newspaper.

The first group includes thirteen countries, among them Norway, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Slovakia and Lithuania. From there, direct flights are allowed from June 9, the British newspaper Daily Mirror writes, but visitors must agree to test for coronavirus within 72 hours of arrival.

On June 20, the circuit will be expanded with Switzerland, Estonia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Croatia and Romania. Then the test requirement for visitors from the first 13 countries is also abolished.

Big countries are missing

However, a number of countries are completely missing from the list: the most affected countries, the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Italy, as well as the Benelux countries, Sweden and Russia.

Karousos said the list should be updated as the coronal situation changes, but according to the Daily Mirror did not give great hope to Britons who want to holiday in the country this summer.

Earlier, the Greek government has said that Britons will "probably" be banned when the country opens for tourism on July 1. Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis told TV broadcaster ITV that the coronal situation in the UK is not good enough for the British to be admitted.

On Saturday, no new infections were reported in Cyprus, which is the first time since March 9.