TRNC Authorities introduces new measures against coronavirus, ban all entry into the country, closes all offices and shops

TRNC authorities on Friday announced new measures against corovirus in the country, banning entry into the country except for TRNC citizens and ‘legal residents’ until April 1.

Only five cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in northern Cyprus — four German tourists and a Turkish Cypriot who had travelled to the UK.

Only TRNC citizens and legal residents will be allowed into the TRNC by land, air or sea until April 1, the Council of Ministers announced late last night following a second emergency meeting on Friday.

The move, effective from Saturday, essentially shuts the crossings down completely to all foreign nationals, including Greek Cypriots.
TRNC citizens who do arrive in the north by land, sea or air, will be asked to isolate themselves for 14 days. 

-Public and private employees will be on leave until 27 March, as part of measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

-All shops, companies, casinos, night clubs etc are closed until March 27.

-People should stay home unless they have an obligation to go somewhere.

-Public officers including the fire brigade, police, civil defence and finance officers will be on duty.

-Services will continue in supermarkets, petrol stations and pharmacies.

The Council of Ministers advised people to avoid “going out on the street”, and announced that precautions were being taken ahead of a “State of Emergency“, and it was also announced that the imposing of a curfew will be evaluated.

-All mass gatherings at mosques are prohibited from March 14 to April 1. Smaller gatherings are permitted.

-Famagusta Hospital has been designated as the quarantine hospital.

Authorities also banned entry to tourists from all countries, including Turkey but TRNC citizens and those with a work permit are excluded from the ban.

Those who came into the country in the last 14 days will remain under house supervision for 14 days.

• All public officials working in the public sector except police, firefighters, healthcare, civil aviation finance and similar services will be considered to be on administrative leave until 27/03/2020.
• In the private sector, all shops, businesses, casinos, night clubs, bet offices, Entertainment centres, etc., except for businesses that produce services within the framework of meeting basic needs such as pharmacies, petrol stations, bakeries and supermarkets. places will be closed until 27/03/2020.
• It is obvious that within the framework of these two measures, a large number of our citizens will stay at home and will not feel the need to go out. On the other hand, as the government, we ask that no one goes out to the street unless it is necessary. Also, depending on the developments within the next 48 hours, our Council of Ministers will evaluate the need for a partial or full curfew under section 156.
• As of 14/03/2020, 02:00, until 01/04/2020, only TRNC citizens and persons who have legal leave in our country can enter the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus through land, sea and air border gates. Entry to the TRNC is banned until 01/04/2020.
• Regardless of which country they comes from, our citizens and people on legal leave who enter our country through land, sea and airport will be monitored and controlled at home for 14 days. For those who do not comply with this, legal action will be initiated under the Communicable Diseases Law No. 45/2018.
• Between 14/03/2020 and 01/04/2020, a decision was made to ban gatherings by associations, unions and locals and not to perform mass worship.
• It has been decided to use Famagusta State Hospital as a quarantine hospital, and efforts have been increased to provide sufficient personnel, equipment and bed capacity and all kinds of facilities in the hospitals.

With information from LGC News