Full details of revised Covid-19 measures announced by TRNC government

On Friday, the government of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus announced new revised Covid-19 measures and restrictions on recommendations of the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases. 

Below, are the revised decisions announced adopted by the Council of Ministers which will be implemented between Monday, April, 12 and Monday, April, 19, 2021.

-A night-time curfew between 10:00pm and 5:00am will be in place from Monday to Saturday. A full-day curfew (except to meet essential needs) will be in place from Saturday 10:00pm to Monday 5:00am.

-All businesses and activities, except for pharmacies, petrol stations, bakeries (production only), livestock and related enterprises will be closed on Sunday 11.04.2021.

-From Monday – Saturday:
    -Markets will be open between 7:00am and 9:00pm. (Including Saturdays)
    -Retail and merchandising services (except supermarkets and workplaces supplying all sectors) will be open between 10:00am and 9:00pm.

Establishments/activities that remain closed/banned:
Cinemas, engagement-birthday parties, weddings, casinos, bars, tavernas, shisha cafes, internet cafes, all kinds of game halls, indoor children’s playgrounds, massage parlours, spas, open buffet restaurants, night clubs, clubs, Turkish baths and saunas.

Establishments that will be open:
-All businesses and activities that are not stated implicitly may be open under the conditions stated below.

-There will be no trying on of clothing at stores.

-Businesses will be allowed to take orders, restock or rearrange shelves, conduct sales and distribute between 8:00 am and 9:00 pm.

- Open businesses will make arrangements that will limit the total number of customers and employees. The arrangement must be made so that the total number of customers and employees will be one person per 5 m2.

-To maintain social distancing, these enterprises will be required to put up informative signs at entrances regarding the total number of customers and employees which can be allowed at any given time.

-Regarding PCR tests; all businesses/establishments/institutions except for the ones stated in the decisions below will be subject to random testing by the Health Ministry.

-Open sectors will be inspected by District Police Boards. Sectors or businesses which flout rules will be shut down.

-Businesses will have to sign consent forms and will be subject to legal prosecution if they fail to comply with the guidelines set.

-Restaurants, cafes and eateries will continue their services. Restaurants may only serve customers indoors without exceeding 1/3 of their seating capacity. 

-The smoking of shisha is strictly forbidden. 

-Employees working in the catering sector will be required to undergo rapid testing every seven days.

-The electronic bracelet system for home quarantine will be promoted at an event on Monday. The system that will allow for home isolation/quarantine will be implemented based on criteria determined by the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases.

-Closed-circuit tourism (three nights) will commence with the launch of the electronic bracelet system.

-Mosques will only be allowed to accept worshipers at 1/3 capacity throughout the holy month of Ramadan. Worshipers will be required to wear masks, practice social distancing and exercise hygiene rules for the duration of their visit. Mosques will need to be ventilated regularly and a record kept of all worshipers entering the building.

-The government advises worshipers to prefer home rather than mosques for daily prayers.

-The opening of internet cafes has been postponed due to a surge in Covid-19 cases.

Decisions Taken;

1. It has been decided to remove controlled passes to Lefke-Güzelyurt-İskele-Famagusta districts. 
2. Public transportation will be available in all districts within and between districts. Bus, minibus, taxi etc. Passengers will not be admitted to the driver's side of the vehicles engaged in transportation. In buses, minibuses and minibuses, passengers will be transported with a seating arrangement so that the back seat of the passengers' driver's seat is empty and 50% capacity will be operated with an empty one and a full one.

Windows will be open during the journey, air conditioning will not be used and everyone in the vehicle will wear a mask. Vehicles will be disinfected after each time.

In addition, a commitment form will be signed by the owners of the public transport and taxi companies engaged in public transportation. If it is determined that the rules specified in the commitment forms are not complied with, criminal action will be imposed on them in accordance with the relevant legislation .

3. It is obligatory to comply with the social distance rule in all open institutions and workplaces, to make markings in order to maintain the social distance to these workplaces in line with square meters, and to apply hygiene and disinfection conditions both inside the workplace and in the entrances and exits, and it is the responsibility of the employer to take and implement these measures.
4. In public and private schools, it has been deemed appropriate that all pre-school, primary and secondary education (except 12th grade) (including classroom, study, private lessons and course activities) continue online until the next decision. Schools will be screened with antigen tests. 
5. Teachers and staff working in kindergartens (3,4,5 years old) and 12th grades will repeat antigen tests every seven days at the specified stations.
6. It has been deemed appropriate for people residing in Northern Cyprus and transiting to Southern Cyprus for treatment purposes, if they document their appointments at the border gates, they can cross to Southern Cyprus without daily quarantine. The patient and his attendant (if necessary) who will be transferring for health purposes are required to submit the negative PCR test results made within the last 3 days upon arrival. In addition, patients and companions returning to our country after the treatment should perform PCR tests again on the seventh and fourteenth days of their entry into the country and submit the results to our Ministry.
7. It has been deemed appropriate for people residing in Southern Cyprus and transiting to Northern Cyprus for treatment purposes, if they document their appointments at the border gates, they submit the negative PCR test results within the last 3 days, without daily quarantine.
8. Within the scope of the Green Line Regulation, it has been deemed appropriate for people doing business in Southern Cyprus to trade without quarantine until 21:00 daily, provided that they submit their official documents regarding trade. Trade persons are required to submit negative PCR tests within the last 7 days.
9. Without quarantine, ambulances will be able to transit through the Yeşilırmak Border Gate for health purposes only. Transitions other than this will be subject to quarantine.
10. Persons residing or working in Pile will be able to pass daily without quarantine, provided that they submit the negative PCR test results that they have done in the last 7 days. In addition, in order to meet the needs of people residing in Pile, if the employees of the enterprises operating in our country request a transition to Pile, it has been deemed appropriate for the employees to make a daily transition if they submit the negative PCR test results made within the last 48 hours.
11. UN, EU, British Bases, Buffer Zone, Missing Persons and Peace Corps employees will be able to enter without quarantine, provided that they submit negative PCR test results within the last 7 days.
12. 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, etc. without quarantine, provided that they submit the negative PCR test results made in the last 7 days.
13. It was decided that funerals would be held with the participation of only first degree relatives, taking into account the social distance rule.
14. Those who reside in the North and work in Southern Cyprus or work in the North who reside in Southern Cyprus will be able to go on a daily pass without quarantine, provided that they submit the negative PCR test results within the last 7 days.
15. Barbers, hairdressers, beauty salons and tattoo studios / salons will continue their work between 07:00 and 20:00. People working in these sectors will repeat antigen tests every seven days. Employees who need to repeat their routine tests before 13.04.2021 will perform PCR tests. In addition, the prepared commitment forms will be signed and businesses that are found to be not complied with the specified rules will be closed.
16. Mass meetings; Using one-third of the closed areas, masks will be worn during prayers, paying attention to social distance and hygiene rules, ventilation of the environment to ensure clean air flow, and registration of entrances will be carried out in accordance with the rules.
17. Considering the quarantine capacity, the Ministry of Finance will accept passengers on flights to our country with a maximum of 4 flights per day and a maximum of 200 people on each flight, provided that the people coming to our country remain in quarantine, and a maximum of 2 flights per day and each time It is deemed necessary to accept passengers with 75 people (excluding soldiers).
18. It has been deemed appropriate for the people residing in Beyarmudu to make a daily pass without quarantine in order to carry out their livestock and agriculture activities in the Buffer Zone and the Bases Region.
19. A maximum of one third of the outdoor and indoor areas of restaurants, patisseries, cafes and taverns will continue to be used. However, hookah will not be used in the specified sectors. Persons working in these sectors will repeat antigen tests every seven days, starting from 13.04.2021. In addition, a letter of undertaking will be signed by these sectors and the sectors may be closed if it is determined that the specified rules are not complied with. 
20. A maximum of one-third of the outdoor and indoor areas of coffeehouses, cafes, cafeterias and clubs will continue to be used. However, games will not be played in the specified sectors (paper, okey, etc.), and hookah, if any, will not be used. Persons working in these sectors will repeat antigen tests every seven days, starting from 13.04.2021. In addition, a letter of undertaking will be signed by these sectors and the sectors may be closed if it is determined that the specified rules are not complied with. 
21. Bet offices will be able to continue their activities within the framework of the conditions specified in the letter of undertaking. One third of the closed areas of the offices will be able to be operated. Food service will not be provided at Bet offices. Persons working in these sectors will repeat antigen tests every seven days, starting from 13.04.2021. In addition, a letter of undertaking will be signed by these sectors and the sectors may be closed if it is determined that the specified rules are not followed. 
22. It has been decided that special education centers will continue their activities. People working in special education centers will repeat PCR tests every seven days.
23. It has been deemed appropriate to continue sports activities and training in non-contact, individual and open areas.
24. Performance swimmers of sports clubs, licensed swimmers and disabled individuals for rehabilitation purposes can be trained in swimming pools. However, course activities will not be held in the pools.
25. It has been deemed appropriate that people who have been in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Brazil, Denmark and Africa in the last 14 days are allowed to enter the country provided that they remain in quarantine for 14 days.
26. The transfers of those who reside in our country and want to go abroad via Southern Cyprus Larnaca Airport, and also want to come to our country via Southern Cyprus Larnaca Airport will be carried out by T-permit taxis and touristic minibuses. Drivers who will make the said transfer 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 border gate they pass through. By ensuring all necessary hygiene conditions in these vehicles, they will be able to transfer with a maximum of 2 passengers in taxis with a "T" license, and a maximum of 4 passengers in vehicles with a touristic minibus license.

In transfers from Southern Cyprus to our country, the negative PCR test results made in the last three days will be submitted and the passengers brought with the knowledge of the border police will be transferred to the designated quarantine hotels.

In addition, the drivers will sign the commitment forms prepared within the scope of the above-mentioned rules. If it is determined that the specified rules are not complied with, the drivers will not be allowed to pass again.

27. It has been deemed appropriate that the national / international exams to be held in our country are carried out under the conditions stated below.

The persons and supervisors who will take the exam have negative PCR test results within the last 72 hours,

- Keeping doors and windows constantly open in order to ventilate the exam area,

- Persons entering the exam area to use their personal protective equipment during the exam,

- Arrangement of tables in the exam area to comply with social distance rules

-It has been deemed appropriate to do it provided that a disinfectant is placed at the entrance to the examination area.

28. Persons who will enter our country due to IVF treatment will be quarantined for 10-14 days, determined according to their country. People who are planned to go from quarantine hotels to IVF Centers for treatment will be taken from the quarantine hotel for 3-4 hours with negative PCR test results in the last 48 hours and then left to the quarantine hotel after treatment. The responsibility of the person taken from the quarantine hotel will belong entirely to the Managing Director of the IVF Center. The commitment form prepared for each person to be taken from quarantine hotels and taken to the IVF center 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.
29. 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. Halls that are found to be not complied with the rules specified in the commitment forms may be closed.
30. In our country, if a contrary decision is not made according to the number of cases, it has been deemed appropriate to train team sports to be held in closed areas without an audience, provided that they do weekly PCR tests. The undertaking to be prepared with the relevant federations will be signed.
31. It is deemed appropriate not to hold protests, rallies and ceremonies in closed areas. Actions, rallies and ceremonies planned to be held in open areas should be carried out with a maximum of 50 people, taking into account the social distance rule and wearing masks throughout the action.
32. According to the wristband and home quarantine criteria determined by the Ministry of Health;
33. Seniors over the age of 70
34. -Children under 12 years old
35. Atherosclerotic heart disease, heart failure
36. Patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy
37. - Cancer patients - those who have received chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the last 6 months
38. Those who have had a minor operation within 1 month
39. Those who have had a major operation within 3 months
40. People with physical and mental disabilities
41. People with neurodegenerative diseases
42. Autism spectrum,
43. - Psychiatric Cases diagnosed more than the last 3 months (report and treatment should be arranged by a specialist psychiatrist.)
44. Those living with a colostomy bag and a permanent urinary catheter
45. -People with end-stage renal failure who need dialysis
46. -Organ and stem cell transplant patients
47. -Pregnancy
48. Persons who are deemed appropriate to spend their quarantine periods at their homes with wristbands will go to their residential addresses they have committed to spend their quarantine period for 10-14 days, either by their own vehicles (without someone else in their vehicles) or by public transport, taxi, touristic minibus authorized vehicles determined by the Ministry of Finance. .
49. - It is recommended that people who do not comply with the home quarantine rules are sent to central quarantine, people pay their quarantine fees themselves and initiate criminal proceedings in accordance with the relevant legislation.
50. In order to start 3-night indoor tourism with charter flights, wristband application and control must be implemented in our country. In order to open local tourism, it will be re-evaluated according to the increase of cases seen in our country in the coming days. 
51. It has been deemed appropriate for professional artists to perform their theater / concert / exhibition work / rehearsals in accordance with the hygiene rule. The performances will be held with a maximum of one third of the halls occupied. Solanda social distance, mask rule will be followed. Everyone who will work in the hall should have negative PCR tests performed within the last 48 hours. The commitment forms to be prepared for these sectors will be signed. One third of its closed areas can be used.
52. It was deemed appropriate to start the lessons provided that the music / ballet instructors teach one-on-one. Instructors will repeat PCR tests every 7 days.
53. Due to the increasing number of cases in our country, it was decided to cancel the decision to open internet cafes, which was previously taken on April 8, 2021. It will be re-evaluated in the coming days.
54. Libraries will be able to continue their activities within the framework of the specified rules.
55. Apprentice students have been deemed appropriate to start their education in the workplace depending on the sectors opened. The rules applied in the specified sectors will also apply to apprentice students.