New measures for Covid-19

Additional Precautionary Decisions taken by the Ministry of Health in respect of the decisions taken by the Infectious Diseases Supreme Committee which met on 05.05.2021 within the scope of curfew declared by the TRNC Council of Ministers by using the authority given to it by Chapter 156 Article 2, of the Law on Curfew and the Law on Infectious Diseases no.45/2018

The Partial Curfew will be implemented within the framework of the following exceptions and additional precautionary decisions taken by the Infectious Diseases Supreme Committee regarding Coronavirus (Covid-19) on 5 May, 2021 and decided to be implemented by the Ministry of Health: The Committee recommends that there should be a curfew between 21:00 and 05:00 on Monday-Saturday, and from 21:00 on Saturday to 05:00 on Monday, except for meeting basic needs.

Within the framework of the Infectious Diseases Supreme Committee, Private sector employees who work in order to meet basic needs and employees who will perform essential services for the public (police, fire brigade, municipality, civil defence, healthcare workers, etc.) are exempt from partial curfews, and partial curfew is imposed for other than these persons. Criminal proceedings will be made against those who do not comply with this partial curfew within the framework of the legislation in force.

Additional Precautionary Decisions taken by the Ministry of Health are as follows;

 – On Monday-Saturday: Markets will be open between 07:00 and 20:00. Retail and merchandising services, and all services/sectors that are not specified as closed will serve between 08:30 and 20:00. Restaurants, cafes, patisseries and taverns will serve between 10:00 and 20:30.

-On Sundays: -All businesses and activities will be closed on Sundays, except for pharmacies, bakeries, petrol stations, and agriculture and animal husbandry and related industrial enterprises and activities.

– Restaurants, cafes, patisseries and taverns can only serve take-away services.

Places that are closed:

– Cinemas, engagement-wedding halls, birthday celebrations, religious gatherings, casinos, bars, taverns, hookah cafes and halls, all kinds of game halls, indoor children’s play areas, massage parlours, spas, restaurants serving open buffets, night clubs, clubs, Turkish baths, saunas.

Places that are open:

All institutions and organisations will return to their normal working arrangements within the framework of pandemic rules. All businesses and activities that are not explicitly stated as being closed can be open within the conditions stated below. There will be no trying on of items in the clothing sector. Supply chain order taking, shelf and display rearranging can be carried out. It has been decided all operations should be carried out between the hours of 08:00 and 20:00.

In order to ensure social distancing, these businesses should place signs at the entrances of their businesses stating the m2 area and the total number of people, including employees, who can be in the business at one time which is 1 person to each 5 m2, for more active inspections. Regarding PCR tests; the screening of all institutions/organisations and sectors not specified in the decisions below will be performed on a random basis by the Ministry of Health. Sectors that are open will be inspected by the associations they are affiliated with and the District Police Boards. Businesses will sign a letter of undertaking and legal proceedings will be launched against the relevant institution in the case that the specified rules are not adhered to.

Decisions Taken;

1. It has been decided to remove controlled crossings to the Lefke-Güzelyurt-İskele-Gazimağusa districts.

2. Inter-district and local public transportation can be provided. Passengers will not be allowed to sit next to the drivers of buses, minibuses, taxis and similar public transport vehicles. In buses, shared taxis and minibuses, passengers will be transported with a seating arrangement that leaves the seat behind the driver’s seat empty, and the operating capacity will be 50% with every other seat empty. Windows will be open during journeys, air conditioning will not be used and everyone in the vehicle will wear a mask. Vehicles will be disinfected after each journey. In addition, a letter of undertaking forms will be signed by the business owners of public transport and taxi enterprises engaged in public transportation. If it is determined that the rules specified in the letter of undertaking are not complied with, criminal proceedings will be launched against them in accordance with the relevant legislation.

3. In all establishments and workplaces that are open, it is compulsory to comply with the social distancing rule, to lay markings on the floor in order protect social distance based on square metres, and to implement hygiene and disinfection conditions both inside the workplace and at the entrances and exits. It is the employer’s responsibility to take and implement these precautions.

4. In state and private schools, it has been deemed appropriate that all pre-school, primary and secondary education (except 12th grade) (including after-school lesson centres, private lessons and course activities) will continue on-line until the next decision. Schools will be screened with antigen tests.

5. Teachers and staff working in kindergartens (3, 4 and 5 years old) and 12th grades will repeat their antigen tests once every seven days at the specified stations.

6. It has been deemed appropriate that people residing in North Cyprus going to South Cyprus for treatment purposes can cross to South Cyprus without quarantine if they present documents of their appointments at the border gates. The patient and their companion (if necessary) who will be crossing for health purposes are required to submit negative PCR test results from within the last 3 days upon arrival. In addition, patients and companions returning to our country after treatment should repeat PCR tests on the seventh and fourteenth days of returning to the country and submit the results to our Ministry.

7. It has been deemed appropriate that people residing in South Cyprus and crossing to North Cyprus for treatment purposes can enter our country without quarantine, provided that they submit negative PCR test results from within the last 3 days and present documents of their appointment at the border gates. However, the patient and accompanying doctor who are transferring for health purposes are required to submit the current date prescription, report and invoice from the doctor / hospital.

8. It has been deemed appropriate for truck drivers with South Cyprus plate, to pass to the North Cyprus for one day in order to buy goods provided that they submit their negative PCR tests obtained within last 72 hours.

9. Within the scope of the Green Line Regulation, it has been deemed appropriate for people doing business in South Cyprus to trade without quarantine until 20:00 daily, provided that they submit their official documents regarding trade. Trades people are required to submit negative PCR tests from within the last 7 days.

10. Ambulances can transit through the Yeşilırmak Border Gate without quarantine for health purposes only. Other crossings are subject to quarantine.

11. People living or working in Pile will be able to cross daily without quarantine, provided that they submit a negative PCR test result obtained in the last 7 days. In addition, in order to meet the needs of people residing in Pile, it has been deemed appropriate that if the businesses operating in our country request their workers to cross into Pile, employees can make daily crossings if they submit negative PCR test results from within the last 48 hours.
12. UN, EU, British Bases, Buffer Zone, Missing Persons and Peacekeeping employees will be able to enter without quarantine, provided that they submit negative PCR test results from within the last 7 days.
13. When diplomats are not with them, diplomatic mission drivers will be able to enter for a maximum of 2 hours for document transportation, route determination and similar jobs, without quarantine provided that they submit a negative PCR test results from the last 7 days.
14. It was decided that funerals can be held with the participation of only first-degree relatives, taking into account the social distancing rule.
15. It has been deemed appropriate not to hold protests, rallies and ceremonies in indoor and outdoor areas.
16. Engagement-wedding halls, birthday celebrations etc. in open and closed areas will definitely not be held. All kinds of activities at home will be limited to maximum 10 persons. Those who do not obey the rules will be punished.
17. Those who reside in the North and work in South Cyprus or who work in the North and reside in South Cyprus, will be able to cross daily without quarantine, provided that they submit negative PCR test results from within the last 7 days.
18. Barbers, hairdressers, beauty salons and tattoo studios/salons will continue their work between the hours of 07:00 and 20:00. People working in these sectors will repeat their antigen tests once every seven days. In addition, the prepared letter of undertaking forms will be signed and businesses found to have not adhered to the specified rules will be shut down.
19. It was decided not to hold mass worship and iftar meals due to the intense increase in cases in our country.
20. Considering the quarantine capacity, the Ministry of Finance will, provided that the people coming to our country remain in quarantine, accept passengers on flights to our country with a maximum of 4 flights per day and a maximum of 200 people on each flight; and for sea travel a maximum of 2 ships per day with a maximum of 75 people per journey (excluding soldiers).

21. Hotels that will provide 3-night indoor hotel tourism, provided that they are subject to charter flights and the wristband application and that they sign the prepared letter of undertaking, must not accept any customers from outside, neither for accommodation nor for restaurants, cafes, etc, located within the hotel, for the purpose of using the areas. It is forbidden for TRNC citizens to come to TRNC with charter flights. In this context, it has been deemed appropriate to organise a maximum of 6 flights per week for indoor hotel tourism. Hotel staff will repeat PCR tests every seven days. Hotel staff will be able to leave the hotel 2 days after the customers leave the hotel in the event that their PCR tests are negative. Suppliers will deliver materials without any contact with the people in the hotel. In addition, it has been deemed appropriate for once only to arrange 6 flights on 12.05.2021 and 4 charter flights on 13.05.2021 for 3-night indoor hotel tourism in respect of the Ramadan Bayram.

22. It has been deemed appropriate for people residing in Beyarmudu to cross daily without quarantine in order to perform their livestock and agriculture activities in the Buffer Zone and the Bases Region.

23. Takeaway services and the outdoor and a maximum of one third of indoor areas of restaurants, patisseries, cafes and taverns will continue to be used. However, hookah must not be used in the specified sectors. People working in these sectors will repeat their antigen tests once every seven days in the designated places. In addition, a letter of undertaking will be signed by these sectors and if it is determined that the specified rules are not being adhered to, the sectors may be closed.

24. The outdoor and a maximum of one-third of indoor areas of coffeehouses, cafeterias, and clubhouses will continue to be used. However, games will not be played in the specified sectors (cards, okay, etc.) and hookah, if available, must not be used. People working in these sectors will repeat their antigen tests once every seven days in the designated places. In addition, a letter of undertaking will be signed by these sectors and if it is determined that the specified rules are not being adhered to, the sectors may be closed.

25. In order to minimise the duration of stay indoors and outdoors and to reduce the risk of contamination, it has been decided not to perform live music in the relevant establishments (cafe, restaurant, tavern, park, etc.) until 27.05.2021. Unless a contrary decision is made according to the number of cases seen in our country, live music will be performed in the relevant enterprises as of 27.05.2021.

26. Betting shops will be able to continue their activities within the framework of the conditions specified in the prepared letter of undertaking. One third of the indoor areas of betting shops will be able to be operated. Food will not be served at betting shops. People working in these sectors will repeat their antigen tests once every seven days from in the designated places. In addition, a letter of undertaking will be signed by these sectors and if it is determined that the specified rules are not being adhered to, the sectors may be closed.

27. It has been decided that special education centres will continue their activities. People working in special education centres will repeat their PCR tests once every seven days.

28. It has been deemed appropriate to continue non-contact, individual and outdoor sports activities ( athletism, horse riding, archery, tennis, golf, triathlon, cycling, outdoor swimming, sailing, bocce, oriantrik, shooting, hunting, air sports, motorbike and car races).

29. Provided that they do the weekly PCR tests, it has been deemed appropriate for training of team sports to be held in indoor and outdoor areas and to start competitions without spectators as of 17.05.2021. The letter of undertaking will be signed with the relevant federations.

30. Swimming pools can be used by performance swimmers of sports clubs, training licensed swimmers, and by disabled individuals for rehabilitation purposes. However, course activities must not be held in the pools.

31. It has been deemed appropriate that people who have been in the Netherlands, Brazil, India, Ukraine, Serbia and Africa in the last 14 days are allowed to enter the country provided that they remain in quarantine for 14 days.

32. Due to the increasing number of cases in India, Brazil, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone and Cameroon, people who have been in these countries within the last 14 days as of 24.05.2021 and want to come to our country (excluding TRNC citizens) will not be able to enter the country until a second decision will be taken.

33. The transfers of those who reside in our country and want to go abroad via South Cyprus Larnaca Airport, and those want to come to our country via South Cyprus Larnaca Airport, will be carried out by T-permit taxis and touristic minibuses. Drivers who will carry out the said transfers are required to submit negative PCR test results within the last 3 days. These vehicles must return within a maximum of 3 hours from the time the cross through the border checkpoint. While ensuring all necessary hygiene conditions in these vehicles, a maximum of 2 passengers will be able to be transferred in taxis with a “T” permit and a maximum of 4 passengers in vehicles with a touristic minibus permit. For transfers from South Cyprus to our country, the passengers brought with the knowledge of the border police will be transferred to the designated quarantine hotels after submitting their negative PCR test results obtained within the last three days. In addition, drivers will sign a letter of undertaking prepared within the scope of the aforementioned rules. If it is determined that the specified rules have not been complied with, then drivers will not be allowed to cross again.

34. It has been deemed appropriate to conduct National/international exams to be held in our country under the conditions stated below: – Examinees and invigilators must have negative PCR test results from within the last 72 hours, – Doors and windows must be kept open at all times in order to ventilate the exam area, – Those entering the exam area must use personal protective equipment during the exam, – Desks in the exam area must be arranged to comply with social distancing rules – Disinfectant must be placed at the entrance to the exam area.

35. People who will enter our country for IVF treatment will be taken to a quarantine centre for 10-14 days, depending on their country. People who are planning to go from quarantine hotels to IVF centres for treatment will be taken from the quarantine hotel for 3-4 hours with negative PCR test results from the last 48 hours and then taken back to the quarantine hotel after treatment. The responsibility for the person taken from the quarantine hotel will belong entirely to the Responsible Manager of the IVF Centre. The letter of undertaking prepared for each person to be taken from the quarantine hotels to the IVF centre will be signed by the Responsible Manager and these forms will be submitted to the Ministry of Health Coordination Board when applying for a treatment permit.

36. Indoor sports halls (fitness) will be able to continue their activities within the framework of the conditions specified in the letter of undertaking. People working in gyms will repeat PCR tests every seven days. Sports halls will open at 06:00 am. Dance schools, music and similar school and course activities will not be held.

37. According to the wristband and home quarantine criteria determined by the Ministry of Health:

-Elderly people over the age of 70

-Children under the age of 12

-Atherosclerotic heart disease, heart failure

-Patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy

-Cancer patients

 – those who have received chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the last 6 months

-Those who have had a minor operation within the last 1 month

-Those who have had a major operation within the last 3 months

 -People with physical and mental disabilities

-People with neurodegenerative diseases

-Autism spectrum,

 -Psychiatric Cases diagnosed for more than the last 3 months (the report and treatment needs to have been arranged by a specialist psychiatrist.) -People living with a colostomy bag and a permanent urinary catheter

-People with end-stage renal failure in need of dialysis

 -Organ and stem cell transplant patients

-Pregnancy

– TRNC citizen students who are studying abroad

 -who are deemed appropriate to spend their quarantine periods at their homes with a wristband will go to their address of a residence where they have committed to spend their 10-14 days quarantine period either with their own vehicles (without anyone else in their vehicles) or public transportation, taxis, touristic minibuses permitted vehicles determined by the Ministry of Finance.

 -It is recommended that people who do not comply with the home quarantine rules are sent to central quarantine and that individuals pay their own quarantine fees, and those criminal proceedings are launched against them in accordance with the relevant legislation.

38. It has been deemed appropriate for professional artists to perform their theatre/concert/exhibition works/rehearsals in accordance with the hygiene rule. Performances will be held with a maximum of one-third of the halls’ capacity. Social distancing and mask rules will be observed in the halls. All those who will work in the halls should have negative PCR tests performed within the last 48 hours. The letter of undertaking forms to be prepared for these sectors will be signed. One-third of indoor areas can be used.

39. It was deemed appropriate for lessons provided by music/ballet instructors to start provided that they are one-to-one lessons. Instructors will repeat their PCR tests once every 7 days. Only individual lessons will be held. Ballet, dance and music events to be held collectively will not be allowed.

40. Libraries will be able to continue their activities within the framework of the specified rules.

41. It has been deemed appropriate for apprentice students to start their education in the workplace depending on the sectors that have opened. The rules applied in the specified sectors will also apply to apprentice students.

42. According to the number of cases in the country, unless otherwise agreed, within the framework of the rules which will be determined, engagement, wedding, circumcision ceremonies will be held starting from 27.05.2021.

43. It has been decided to start night club activities as of 27.05.2021, provided that the persons who will work in nightclubs stay in central quarantine for 14 days upon entering the country.

44. It has been decided to establish an automation system in order to follow contacted persons more effectively and faster.

45. It was deemed appropriate not to do activities such as the festival area, funfair, etc., which are planned to be established due to the Ramadan Bayram. In addition, in order to hold or establish such events this will be re-evaluated in the coming days according to the number of cases in our country.

46. In this period as the number of cases has decreased in our country, it was deemed appropriate to celebrate Bayram and to visit our families, only within the scope of the nuclear family, in order to prevent the increase of the contamination in the future days and to protect our families.

47. It has been deemed appropriate for sea cruise boats to operate with one-third of their capacity as of 17.05.2021. Staff on the tour boat will repeat the PCR tests every seven days. In addition, the letter of undertaking forms to be prepared will be signed and legal action will be taken against those who are found to be not complying with the specified rules.

48. It has been deemed appropriate for people working in internet cafes to have their PCR tests performed in order to be screened until 17.05.2021, and it was decided to open internet cafes on 18.05.2021. People who enter into internet cafes will be recorded and they will be able to use the computers for a maximum of 2 hours. The letter of undertaking forms to be prepared with these sectors will be signed and the workplaces found to be not complying with the specified rules may be closed.

49. The issue of allowing fully vaccinated individuals with double negative PCR tests without the need for quarantine to enter our country will be re-evaluated as of 10 June 2021, according to the current epidemiological data of the country (number of cases, test positivity, risk status, etc.) and also taking into account the vaccination rate in our country.

50. It has been deemed appropriate for once only in respect of Mother’s Day on Sunday (09.05.2021), for the florists to provide on-line ordering and delivery at the door.