Full details of revised Covid-19 restrictions/measures

On Friday, the TRNC government announced new measures with students from abroad now allowed to apply for home quarantine with a wristband while quarantine period for those from the UK has been reduced to 10 days.

The following revised decisions was on Friday, April, 30 adopted in line with recommendations of the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases.

From Monday, May, 3;

-With the wristband application, the number of future charter flights for 3-night indoor hotel tourism has been increased to 6.

-Demonstrations, rallies and ceremonies in indoor and outdoor areas will not be permitted due to the increasing number of cases in the country. 

-It has been deemed appropriate not to organize activities such as the feast place, amusement park, festival area, etc., which are planned to be established due to the Ramadan Feast.

-Markets will be opened between 7:00am and 8:00pm on Monday to Saturday.

The relevant decisions will take effect from Monday, May 3, 2021.

Retail and merchandising services and all services / sectors not specified as closed will operate between 8:30am and 8:00pm while restaurants, cafes, patisseries and taverns will serve between 10:00am and 8:30pm.

People from who have been in the Netherlands, Brazil, India, Ukraine, Serbia and Africa will be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival. 

Meanwhile quarantine period for those coming from Britain and Denmark have been reduced to 10 days.

TRNC citizen students studying abroad were included to home quarantine criteria with a wristband determined by the Ministry of Health.

Curfew will be between 9:00pm and 5:00am from Monday and between 9:00pm on Saturday to 5:00am on Monday. 

On Sundays:

- All businesses and activities will be closed, except for pharmacies, bakeries, gas stations and agriculture, animal husbandry and industrial enterprises connected to them.

- Restaurants, cafes, patisseries and taverns will only be open for take-away services.

Closed Places;

-Cinema halls, engagement-wedding halls, birthdays, mevlids, casinos, bars, taverns, hookah cafes and lounges, all kinds of game halls, indoor playgrounds, internet cafes, massage rooms, spa, open buffet restaurants, night clubs, club, Turkish bath, saunas.

Open Places;

All institutions and organizations will return to their normal working order within the framework of pandemic rules. 

In open businesses, an arrangement will be made so that the total number of customers and employees will be 1 person in a maximum of 5 m2. In order to protect the social distance, these enterprises will be made to place a notice on the entrances of the enterprises regarding the m2 areas and the total number of people that can be in the enterprise, including employees.

Regarding the PCR tests; The screening of all institutions / organizations and sectors that are not specified in the decisions below will be randomly performed by the Ministry of Health.

Decisions Taken;

1. It has been decided to abolish controlled passes to the districts of Lefke-Güzelyurt-İskele-Famagusta. 

2. In all of our districts, public transportation will be available within the district and between the 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 one of the back seats of the driver's seat is empty, and 50% capacity will be operated with one empty and one full.

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 business owners of public transport and taxi enterprises engaged in public transportation. If it is determined that the rules specified in the commitment forms are not complied with, criminal action will be applied to 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 keep the social distance to these workplaces in line with square meters, to make markings, to apply hygiene and disinfection conditions both inside the workplace and at the entrances and exits, and it is the responsibility of the employer to take and implement these measures.

4. In state 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) and 12th grades will repeat antigen tests every seven days at the specified stations.

6. Persons residing in Northern Cyprus and going to Southern Cyprus for treatment purposes are deemed appropriate to pass to Southern Cyprus without daily quarantine if they document their appointments at the border gates. 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. Patients and accompanying persons returning to our country after treatment are required to present a current dated prescription, report or invoice to be obtained from the doctor / hospital when they enter the country. In addition, on the seventh and fourteenth days of their entry into the country, they must perform the PCR tests again 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 to enter our country without daily quarantine, provided that they submit their negative PCR test results within the last 3 days if they document their appointment at the border gates. However, the patient and his accompanying doctor who are transferring for health purposes are required to show the current date prescription, report and invoice to be obtained from the doctor / hospital.

8. It is deemed appropriate that the truck drivers with license plates in Southern Cyprus who need to cross to Northern Cyprus in order to buy goods from Southern Cyprus, without anyone, with the PCR test result they have done in the last 72 hours.

9. Within the scope of the Green Line Regulation, it has been deemed appropriate for the people doing business in Southern Cyprus to trade without quarantine until 21:00, provided that they submit their official documents regarding trade. Traders are required to submit negative PCR tests within the last 7 days.

10. Without the quarantine application, ambulances will be able to transit through the Yeşilırmak Border Gate for health purposes only. Crossings other than this will be subject to quarantine.

11. Persons residing or working in Pile will be able to make a daily pass 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 within the last 48 hours.

12 UN, EU, British Bases Area, 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.

13 When diplomats are not with them, diplomatic mission drivers will be able to enter for a maximum of 2 hours without quarantine, document transportation, route determination, etc., provided that they submit the negative PCR test results made in the last 7 days.

It was decided that the 14th funeral ceremonies would be held with the participation of only first degree relatives, taking into account the social distance rule.

15. It is recommended that the demonstrations, rallies and ceremonies in indoor and outdoor areas should not be made as the reason for the number of cases seen in our country. 

16.Birthday, engagement, party, picnic, etc. activities will not be held in open and closed areas. All kinds of socializing activities in the house will be limited to a maximum of 10 people. If it is determined otherwise, necessary legal action will be initiated.

17. Those who reside in the North and work in Southern Cyprus or work in the North of Southern Cyprus will be able to make a daily pass without quarantine, provided that they submit the negative PCR test results within the last 7 days.

18. Barber, hairdresser, 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. In addition, the prepared commitment forms will be signed and businesses found that the specified rules are not complied with will be closed.

19. Due to the intense increase in cases in our country, it was decided not to hold mass meetings and iftar meals. 

20. 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 It is deemed necessary to accept passengers with 75 people (excluding soldiers) at a time.

It has been deemed appropriate for the people residing in the 21st Byeyarmudu 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.

22. The take-up services of restaurants, patisseries, cafes and taverns will continue to be used, and a maximum of one-third of the outdoor and indoor areas. However, hookah will not be used in the specified sectors. People working in these sectors will repeat antigen tests every seven days. In addition, a letter of undertaking will be signed by these sectors and if it is determined that the specified rules are not complied with, the sectors may be closed. 

23. The use of a maximum of one third of the outdoor and indoor areas of coffeehouses, cafes, cafeterias and clubs will continue. However, games will not be played in the specified sectors (paper, okey, etc.), and hookah, if any, will not be used. People working in these sectors will repeat antigen tests every seven days. In addition, a letter of undertaking will be signed by these sectors and if it is determined that the specified rules are not complied with, the sectors may be closed. 

24.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 can be operated. Food service will not be provided at Bet offices. People working in these sectors will repeat antigen tests every seven days. In addition, a letter of undertaking will be signed by these sectors and if it is determined that the specified rules are not complied with, the sectors may be closed. 

25. It has been decided that the private education centers will continue their activities. People working in special education centers will repeat PCR tests every seven days.

26. Non-contact, individual and outdoor sports activities, training and spectator-free competitions (athletics, horse riding, archery, tennis, golf, triathlon, cycling, outdoor swimming, sailing, sports activities for all (bocce and orientric), shooting, hunting (sportive events), air sports, motor and car races) have been deemed appropriate.

27. Performance swimmers of sports clubs, licensed swimmers and disabled individuals for rehabilitation purposes can be trained in swimming pools.

28. 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.

29.Transfers of people residing in our country who 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.

30. It has been deemed appropriate to conduct the national / international exams to be held in our country under the conditions stated below.

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

- Always keeping doors and windows open in order to ventilate the exam area,

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

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

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

31. People 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 the 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.

32. Indoor sports halls (fitness, individual) will be able to continue their activities within the framework of the conditions specified in the written undertaking. People working in gyms will repeat PCR tests every seven days. These halls will be able to start serving from 06:00. Dance schools, music and similar school and course activities will not be held.

33. 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.

34. According to the wristband and home quarantine criteria determined by the Ministry of Health;

Seniors over the age of 70

-Children under 12 years old

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 1 month

Those who have had a major operation within 3 months

People with physical and mental disabilities

People with neurodegenerative diseases

Autism spectrum,

- Psychiatric Cases diagnosed more than the last 3 months (report and treatment should be arranged by a specialist psychiatrist.)

Living with a colostomy bag and permanent urinary catheter

-People with end-stage renal failure who need dialysis

-Organ and stem cell transplant patients

-Pregnancy

- TRNC citizen students studying abroad

Those who are deemed appropriate to spend their quarantine periods at their homes with a wristband will go to their residential addresses they have committed to spend their quarantine periods 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. .

- 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.

35.Charter flights and the hotels that will make 3-night indoor hotel tourism and sign the prepared commitments, provided that they are subject to wristband application, will not accept customers from outside, neither for the purpose of accommodation nor for the use of restaurants, cafes, etc. It is forbidden for TRNC citizens to come with charter flights. In this context, it has been deemed appropriate to organize a maximum of 6 flights per week for indoor hotel tourism since 15.04.2021. Hotel staff will repeat PCR tests every seven days. Suppliers, on the other hand, will provide material without any contact with the people in the hotel.     

36. 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 must 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.

37. 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. There will only be individual lessons. There will be no ballet, dance or music events to be held collectively.

38.Libraries will be able to continue their activities within the framework of the rules specified in the commitment to be signed.

39. Apprentice students have been deemed appropriate to start their education in their workplaces depending on the sectors opened. The rules applied in the specified sectors will also be valid for apprentice students.

According to the number of cases seen in our country, it has been decided that engagement, wedding, wedding, circumcision ceremonies to be held in the open area within the framework of the rules specified in the undertaking to be prepared in the event that a contrary decision is not made, as of 27.05.2021.

41. It has been decided to establish an automation system in order to make contact tracking more effective and faster, and studies have been initiated in this direction.

It has been deemed appropriate not to organize activities such as the festival place, amusement park, festival area, etc., which are planned to be established due to the 42nd Ramadan Festival.