TRNC new Covid-19 measures come into force on Monday

The latest measures adopted by the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases on Saturday in an attempt to contain the spread of local cases, particularly in the Girne area came into force on Monday.

According to the decisions, all schools, tuition centres and other education institutions located between Çatalköy and Karşıyaka will not be resuming in-class education unlike other parts of the country until further notice.

Schools in these areas will resume classes online.

It was also announced that teachers and pupils who reside in Girne or the wider Girne area but teach or study in Lefkoşa or other areas will not be allowed to return to schools until further notice.

The harsher decisions taken by the committee include the shutting down of leisure, sporting and grooming facilities in Alsancak and Karşıyaka until further notice.

In this regard, all entertainment venues, bars, clubs, taverns, cinemas, coffee shops, cafes, bet offices, gyms, internet cafes, barbershops, hairdressers, beauty parlours, tattoo parlours and massage parlours will remain closed.

Restaurants, patisseries, and food kiosks will be allowed to resume operations for take-away and delivery services.

The earlier decision to allow all venues and businesses in other areas to remain open until 10 pm has been extended.

The committee also extended the measures regarding the crossings.

In this regard, individuals living or working in Pile will be exempt from quarantine when entering the north on the condition they present a negative PCR test carried out in the last 72 hours.

Turkish Cypriots working in the UN, the EU, the British Bases, the UN-controlled buffer zone, for the Committee for Missing Persons in Cyprus and UN peacekeepers will be exempt from quarantine provided they present a negative PCR test carried out in the last 72 hours.

Those receiving routine health treatments in the south will be allowed to cross for daily visits and will be exempt from quarantine on the condition they present a negative PCR test carried out in the last 72 hours.

These individuals and their caretakers will be required to undergo PCR testing on the 7th and 14th days of their return and inform the health authorities of their test results.

Turkish Cypriot workers employed in the south will be subject to quarantine upon their return should they cross over to go to work.

The same rule is also applicable to Turkish Cypriot students studying in the south and to their parents as well as to those residing in the south and working in the TRNC.

On the other hand, individuals who carry out non-contact trade within the framework of the Green Line Regulation (GLR) will be allowed to continue their operations without any restrictions.

The rule on the Yeşilırmak crossing point was also extended with only quarantine exemptions being given for ambulance services.

Turkish Cypriots residing in Beyarmudu and who carry out farming and livestock breeding in the Sovereign Bases Area (SBA) will be exempt from quarantine when entering the TRNC.