Front Page Headlines
All eyes on salary support
Work on the Covid-19 Wage Support prepared by the government for the public sector has not been finalised yet. Many who are employed in businesses shut due to the Council of Minister’s decision are waiting for the ₺1500 (€208) wage support announced by the government.
- Curfew in Karpaz (Karpasia) extended for seven more days
- Seven cases in the north, 40 in the south, one death
- Head nurse at Nicosia’s Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital Savaşkan: “There are those who are fighting the virus at home. We have two clusters of patients in Lapta and the Karpaz”
- Head of Basic Health Services Department Dr Figen İnce: “Our prerequisite for testing are symptoms of cough, shortness of breath and fever”
- Finance Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu: “The 25 per cent cuts from health care workers, civil defence members and police are being reimbursed”
- €2.5m in medical supplies from the EU, 40 ventilators and 25 doctors
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One blow after another
The economic measures adopted by the government on the one hand and the weakening of the Turkish Lira against the Euro, British Pound and the US dollar on the other have worn out people both economically and psychologically. The economy has weakened with the closure of businesses in the private sector and the pay cuts in the public sector. Economist Okan Veli Şafaklı who evaluated the situation. “This is a total deadlock,” Şafaklı said and pointed to the devaluation of the Turkish Lira when the businesses are closed. He painted a bleak picture for the economy.
- All our measures to date could go to waste – Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) Mayor Hasan Öztaş said 60-year-old people outside of town have been distributing food supplies to those over 65 years of age in Geçitkale (Lefkonoiko) without any protective measures and without informing the municipality.
- The fugitive could only run for two years – Süleyman Yılkar, who had escaped from the prison on 7 February 2018, was detained by the United Nations Peacekeepers in Beyarmudu (Pergamos) area and handed over to the Turkish Cypriot side.
- All new seven cases are from the Karpaz (Karpasia) area and Lapta (Lapithos).
- The curfew in 15 Karpaz (Karpasia) villages extended for another seven days.
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Hurry Turkey
Finance Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu pointed out that state revenues had dropped by 50 per cent and that there was a need for ₺3.3bn (€470m) in support for the rest of the year. He said that a report has been sent to Turkey for financial assistance. Amcaoğlu added that some institutions needed to become active for the wheels of the economy to turn.
- Karpaz (Karpasia) and Lapta (Lapithos) – Coronavirus cases reach 88 in North Cyprus with seven new cases recorded.
- 11 losses of life – The number of cases in the South reach 396 with 40 new cases.
- Loss of life reaches 425 – 2,786 new cases in Turkey bring the tally to 20,931.
- 2000 people call the helpline – Coronavirus leads to a 47 per cent rise in domestic violence among Greek Cypriots.
- He could run away for two years – Süleyman Yılkar who had escaped from prison was caught in South Cyprus.
484 cases 15 deaths
The number of cases and deaths on the rise because of failing to implement timely measures and due to not prohibiting entry and exit swiftly into the island. The number of cases in the north increased to 88 with the latest confirmation of seven cases. In the south, 40 new cases were identified bringing the total tally to 396.
- One year of imprisonment for violation of curfew – The sanctions in the north becoming heavier. The government implemented a decree regarding those violating the street curfew. Those in violation can be charged up to ten per cent of the minimum wage or one year of imprisonment or both.
- The curfew in 15 villages extended – The street curfew in 15 Karpaz (Karpasia) villages has been extended for another seven more days.
- Cheques delivered from the south – Public works and communication minister Tolga Atakan said the cheques from the south have been separated according to the districts and sent to them.
- Two doctors tested positive – Two doctors, employed by the state, stationed at Kolan Hospital tested positive for coronavirus. The “rapid” test results will be verified later and will be announced.
Main News
Steady rise in cases in the north, much needed EU support on the way
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Seven new coronavirus cases were confirmed in the north on Thursday, bringing the total number to 88. Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ali Pilli, who announced the latest figures on Bayrak, said the geographical breakdown of cases as follows: Nicosia 11 cases, Gönyeli (Geunyeli) 3 cases, Famagusta 3 cases, Beyarmudu (Pergamos) 3 cases, Kyrenia 2 cases, Lapta (Lapithos) 9 cases, Alsancak (Karavas) 4 cases, Karşıyaka (Vasileia) 22 cases.
Pilli also noted 321 tests had been administered on Friday, bringing the total tally to 2327.
Turkish Cypriot authorities extended on Friday the curfew in 15 villages in the Karpaz (Karpasia) for another seven days as the number of positive cases rose to 22.
The area was initially placed in quarantine on March 27 after several cases were detected there.
Also on Friday, Dr Özlem Gürkut, head of Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association, said the quarantine period had been extended from 14 days to 21 days given new scientific data.
Evaluating the developments on a programme on Havadis web TV, Gürkut said the World Health Organisation (WHO) has informed health authorities throughout the world that the number of people with coronavirus, who do not display any symptoms, also known as ‘ghost’ cases is on the rise.
“The contamination period for those who are asymptomatic coronavirus cases is limited to two weeks. If we can keep such people for three weeks without any contact with others, they cannot spread the virus,” Gürkut concluded.
In a positive development for Turkish Cypriot authorities, the European Union (EU) successfully procured the first batch of urgent medical equipment and supplies for an amount of €2.5m and has also mobilised 25 medical specialists for three months to assist the Turkish Cypriot doctors in the fight against coronavirus pandemic, all dailies reported on Saturday.
In a statement issued from the European Commission (EC) Representation in Cyprus, the procurement was carried out through a contribution agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Cyprus.
“This is the first tranche of the €5m budget earmarked by the EC for the fight against coronavirus pandemic in the Turkish Cypriot community,” the statement read.
The procurement of the first batch of urgent equipment and supplies was secured from suppliers in Europe and China.
The first shipment of supplies, which include personal protection equipment (PPE), ventilators, Intensive Care Unit equipment, laboratory consumables and kits for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and medication such as antibiotics, antivirals, sedatives and paralytics, is expected to arrive on the island in April.
“To improve the response capacity against the spread of Covid-19 in the Turkish Cypriot community, the EC, in collaboration with the relevant local stakeholders, is also financing the mobilisation of medical staff including 25 doctors, laboratory technicians and support staff,” the statement said, adding these staff can be mobilised with immediate effect as needed.
Also on Friday, Akel’s Turkish Cypriot MEP Niyazi Kızılyürek requested urgent assistance from the EU.
In a question submitted to the EC, Kızılyürek said that Turkish Cypriots were experiencing difficulty in fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
Kızılyürek welcomed the €5m allocated by the EU to the Turkish Cypriot Community but said this was not enough as other urgent needs needed to be met.
He pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot economy was based on service sectors such as tourism and higher education, adding that the measures adopted to contain the spread of the virus had brought many businesses in the sector to the brink of bankruptcy.
Kızılyürek reminded that the north which was greatly dependent on and under the control of Turkey did not possess the necessary financial instruments to deal with the crisis which was the EU needed to assist its Turkish Cypriot citizens.
In the meantime, the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry (KTSO) on Friday announced said the chamber was working together with its members to manufacture protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers.
In a statement issued, KTSO added that its members are already producing the necessary detergents, disinfectants and hygiene products.
Additionally, it is reported that the Department of Engineering of the Eastern Mediterranean University has submitted 205 facemasks manufactured at its production facilities to the Famagusta hospital.
The manufacturing was sponsored by a private company in Famagusta.
Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers’ Association also donated five ventilators to the Health Ministry on Friday.
In a statement issued, the Association also noted that they continue to provide supplies to the quarantine facilities daily.
In another development, the cabinet issued a statutory decree revising the provisions of sanctions for failing to comply with the curfew in force on Friday.
In a written statement issued by the office of the prime ministry, those who violate the street curfew will be punishable up to one year of imprisonment or subject to a fine equivalent of ten per cent of the minimum wage or both.
Tolga Atakan, Minister of Public Works and Communication, said the cheque payments from the south have been arranged according to their addresses and were sent to the district post offices on Friday.
In a post on social media, Atakan added the cheques with addresses in Nicosia have already been delivered.
Fugitive handed over by UNFICYP
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Fugitive Süleyman Yılkar, who had escaped from the central prison in the north on 7 February 2018, was caught by United Nations (UN) peacekeepers in the Buffer Zone (BZ) in Beyarmudu (Pergamos) area and returned to the Turkish Cypriot police on Thursday, all dailies report on Saturday.
Speaking during the court hearing on Friday, the police officer tasked with the investigation, said the voluntary testimony given by the suspect, who was handed over on 2 April, needs to be investigated further.
The Nicosia District Court judge ordered the suspect to be remanded for three days until the police conclude its investigation.