The Council of Ministers has taken the following decision to implement additional measures regarding the Coronvirus (COVID-19):
(As of 2:00 AM on 14 March 2020 and until 1 April 2020, only TRNC citizens and persons with legal residency in our country will be able to enter the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus through land and sea ports, as well as Ercan airport. Entry of all other persons who are not in these categories are suspended until 1 April 2020.)
In addition:
1- Considering that our universities and businesses will be closed until 27 March 2020 and taking into account the data shared by the World Health Organisation, in accordance with Council of Ministers decision No. E.T(K-I)438-2020, dated 12 March 2020, in addition to the ban on travellers from China, South Korea, Iran, Iraq, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, Greece, the USA, Switzerland, Japan, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Hong Kong, Belgium, Singapore, Austria, Qatar and Bahrain, citizens of and visitors coming from the below-mentioned countries will also be banned from entering the TRNC as of 16 March 2020 at 8:00 PM, regardless of whether they have legal immigration permits. This ban does not apply to TRNC citizens and will remain in place until 1 April 2020.
Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, Congo, Central African Republic, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Palestine, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, India, Mauritania, Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Jordan, Lebanon.
2- Moreover, particularly TRNC citizens who are currently in the United Kingdom are called upon to refrain from leaving the UK and travelling to the TRNC unless absolutely crucial to do so.
3- It has been decided to convene a coordination council as regards the ongoing quarantine at Salamis Hotel. Subsequently, measures taken up until now and measures that will be taken moving forward in terms of health, hygiene and food will be shared with the public.
4- There has been a decrease in the volume of shoppers at supermarkets allowing us to believe that we have entered a period of normalization as regards supermarkets. On the other hand, the hot and cold food sales points within the supermarkets will be closed as of 8:00 AM on 16 March 2020. Flour-based food production points within the markets will continue to operate.
5- Those who are required to but fail to comply with the mandatory 14-day home isolation/monitoring rule will be detained by police authorities and taken to and held at observation centres in line with Law on Communicable Diseases (45/2018).
6- It has been decided to replace Article 5 of the Council of Ministers decision no. E.T(K-I)443-2020, dated 14 March 2020, with the following new Article:
With a view to continuing imports to our country and providing supplies to markets, trucks containing imported goods from abroad will remain at Famagusta and Kyrenia ports and their containers will be towed and directed to inland depots. Requests of airline personnel to stay in our country overnight will be assessed after taking the necessary health measures.
7- Accountants/Controllers who work closely with the Department of Income and Taxation of the Ministry of Finance, as well as delivery companies and customs commissions which conduct customs transactions will continue to function.
DECISIONS OF THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS (13 MARCH 2020) REGARDING CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19), WHICH MUST BE ABIDED IN TOTO
March 14, 2020
- All public personnel working in the public sector except for the police force, fire department, health, civil aviation, finance and similar services will be under administrative leave until 27/03/2020.
- All shops, businesses, casinos, night clubs, bet offices, entertainment centres etc. will be closed until 27/03/2020, excluding those businesses that provide for basic needs such as pharmacies, gas stations, bakeries and supermarkets.
- It is inevitable that due to these two measures a large number of our citizens will stay at home and will not need to go out. However, as the Government, we call on people not to go out unless it is absolutely necessary. In light of the developments within the next 48 hours, our Council of Ministers will evaluate whether or not to issue a partial or full curfew under Article 156.
- As of 02:00 AM on 14/03/2020 until 01/04/2020, only TRNC citizens and persons with legal residency can enter the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus from land, air, and seaports. This ban will remain in force on persons not falling within these two categories until 01/04/2020.
- Regardless of which country our citizens and persons with legal residency may have entered our country from; they will be monitored and checked at their homes where they will isolate themselves for 14 days. Under the Communicable Diseases Law No. 45/2018, legal action will be taken against those who do not comply with this rule.
- A decision has been made to prohibit all gatherings that will take place at associations, unions and locales as well as collective worship between 14/03/2020 and 01/04/2020.
- Famagusta State Hospital has been designated as quarantine hospital, and efforts have been intensified to employ sufficient personnel, provide adequate equipment and increase bed capacity as well as all kinds of facilities at this hospital.
TRAVEL ADVISORY IN RELATION TO CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) OUTBREAK -2
In addition to the decision taken by the TRNC Government on 5 March 2020 relating to Italy, Iran, Iraq, China and South Korea, entry of travellers from and citizens of these countries as well as those of France, Spain, Germany, Greece, the USA, Switzerland, Japan, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Hong Kong, Belgium, Singapore, Austria, Qatar and Bahrain through all ports, including land, sea and Ercan airport, have been suspended in accordance with the Government decision taken today (12 March 2020). This measure will remain in place until 1 April 2020.
TRNC citizens and those with legal residency travelling to the TRNC from these countries will be allowed entry. However, such persons will be required to self-isolate in their residences for a period of 14 days following their entry to the country. The Ministry of Health, in accordance with the Law on Communicable Diseases, will take all necessary measures as regards those who fail to abide by this requirement.
Akyar (Strovilia) and Yeşilırmak (Limnitis) crossing points have been closed until 22 March 2020. Metehan (Agios Dometios), Ledra Palace and Beyarmudu (Pergamos) crossing points will remain open.
We strongly advise our citizens to avoid travelling abroad unless absolutely necessary and to avoid places where high numbers of people gather.
More information can be obtained from the emergency numbers below.
TRNC Deputy Prime Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs
+90 533 8514006
TRNC Ministry of Health
+90 533 8501188
+90 548 8501188
