NICOSIA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus has decided to downgrade Greece, a favorite destination for Cypriot travelers, to Group B as of this coming Thursday, after several people who arrived from Greek destinations tested positive to coronavirus, a Health Ministry statement said on Monday.

"The decision was taken as an increased number of COVID-19 cases were detected during random tests from passengers returning from Greece in the last few days," the statement said.

That means that as of Aug. 6 all passengers from Greece will have to present a negative test at the airport upon their arrival. Cypriot citizens or legal residents in Cyprus can be tested upon their arrival and pay for the cost.

More than 100 cases were recorded in the last five days, the majority of which were related to travelers from Greece and Cypriots returning from Group C countries, who failed to be confined for 14 days.

Cypriot Minister of Justice and Public Order Emily Yiolitis said she instructed the police to carry out an investigation with a view of prosecuting a woman who returned from a trip to the United States, broke her quarantine and threw up a party, during which 14 people were infected.

Health specialists said that they were just one step away from characterizing the increased coronavirus cases as a second pandemic wave.

At the end of last week, Cypriot authorities made mandatory the use of a mask in all closed public spaces, such as malls and shops. Cyprus also brought back restrictions on the number of people meeting indoors in the southern city of Limassol, which developed into a coronavirus hotbed. Enditem

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