NICOSIA — As part of plans to reopen to tourists again March 1 during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Cyprus plans to use a color-coded health risk assessment for faster checks of incoming visitors for safety.

Cyprus is eager to get travelers into the country again to bolster tourism, its major revenue provider, and prop up an economy brought down hard by two lockdowns being eased back.

The key markets include the former Colonial ruler the United Kingdom as well as Russia and Israel but the Transport Ministry extended until March 31 a mandatory seven-day quarantine of arrivals from the UK at a facility under the supervision of health authorities.

That practice has been in place for British arrivals since December, the Reuters news agency reported about the color code and tourism incentive plans.

Adopting a phased-in approach, authorities said all arrivals from March 1-31 from “green” countries would require a free PCR test upon arrival, with the requirement lifted from April 1.

Individuals arriving from “amber” countries need a PCR test 72 hours prior to travel, and those in the red will need a double PCR test, before and upon arrival to the island. Country coding would be reviewed on a weekly basis for now.