TRNC increases length of quarantine period from 7 to 10 days, ban New Year's celebration

The TRNC Ministry of Health in an announcement on Monday said the length of quarantine period has been increased from 7 days to 10 days.

This is contained in new decisions taken by the Committee on Infectious Diseases.

In line with the Decisions taken by the Committee on Infectious Diseases under the Communicable Diseases Law 45/2018, the Ministry of Health has decided to implement the following Additional Precautionary Decisions. 

1. The 7-day quarantine period previously applied to the TRNC has been increased to 10 days. Persons who will enter the TRNC from abroad will be subject to quarantine for 10 (ten) days, provided that they submit a negative PCR test result made in the last 3 days, and PCR tests will be performed at the end of the quarantine. 

2. The decision published in the Official Gazette on the suspension of non-quarantined entries for 3 days or less for entry into the TRNC by charter flights, private aircraft, scheduled flights and ships have been extended.

3. Crossings to and from Southern Cyprus has been stopped from Tuesday, December 15, 2020 to Friday, December 25, 2020 (including on both dates). This include those residing in Northern Cyprus and working in Southern Cyprus and trading within the scope of the green line regulation. 

4. Unquarantined entry of taxi drivers into Northern Cyprus, including carrying of passengers has been stopped beginning from Tuesday, 15 December 2020 to Friday, 25 December 2020 (including both dates). 

5. New Year's celebrations / entertainment to be held in restaurants and hotels from Tuesday, December 15, 2020 to Friday, January 01, 2021 (including both dates) has been banned.

6. Taverns, bars, clubs and similar entertainment venues will be closed from Tuesday, December 15, 2020 until Friday, December 25, 2020. 

7. Cafes and restaurants will remain open provided they comply with the social distance and hygiene rules within the scope of the rules stated earlier. In this context, it is necessary to provide the necessary seating arrangement with a table layout not exceeding 6 people and a minimum of 1.5 meters between the tables and 60 cm between the chairs. Cafes and restaurants found not to comply with these rules will be subject to criminal action within the scope of the Infectious Diseases Law. 

8. It has been observed that measures regarding the transport sector, which were published and entered into force on September, 5, 2020, are still not implemented. Therefore, from Tuesday, December 15, 2020, buses, minibuses, taxis, etc. if the vehicles engaged in public transportation do not separate the driver's quarters from the passengers, it will be appropriate to initiate criminal proceedings against them within the scope of the relevant law. 

9. People who enter the TRNC for IVF treatment will not leave the quarantine center before completing their 10-day quarantine period. (However, it has been deemed appropriate for this rule to enter into force as of Thursday, 24, December, 2020 in order to complete the treatment of people who have started IVF treatment and to prevent patient victimization.) 

10. It has been decided not to hold all kinds of entertainment activities including New Year's Eve to be held on the street until January 01, 2021. 

11. On Thursday, 24, December, 2020, the Contagious Diseases Supreme Committee will convene and the decisions taken will be re-evaluated.