Front Page Headlines
The A team spoke to Yenidüzen: ‘Carry out more tests with a stronger team’
The team of doctors responsible for treating Covid-19 patients who spoke to Yenidüzen highlighted the need for more tests, more personnel and more compliance with the rules.
- Tests negative, morale positive – Students reunite with their families. Those in quarantine at the Palm Beach Hotel, The Güneş Dormitories, Acapulco Hotel and Riverside Hotel were reunited with their families yesterday (Tuesday) after they tested negative for coronavirus.
- 29 new cases in the south, two in the north, one death
- Tatar: The curve has flattened. We shall be stopping charter flights for the time being after the last one arrives.
- Pilli: Those above 60 with chronic illnesses should stay at home.
Ceased print/Online only
If not addressed, the crime rate will increase
Kafesli street mukhtar Hüseyin Eminoğlu warned that food packages in Nicosia’s old town were not being distributed fairly and asked for immediate assistance for all residents forced to stay at their homes. The mukhtar warned that failure to address the situation will lead to a rise in crime. He also urged the authorities to immediately establish a crisis-desk for residents in the old town to plan how to help them.
- Strict controls in Lefke (Lefka) – Lefke (Lefka) Mayor Aziz Kaya announced that police controls have started at the entrance to the district to protect the people in Lefke (Lefka) from the coronavirus pandemic.
- Third death from the virus in the north – 74-year-old Ümit Tilki, who was in the ICU, passed away yesterday (Tuesday) morning. The death toll increased to three in the north. Two new cases were confirmed in the north on Tuesday. One of the cases is in Lapta (Lapithos) and the other one is in Beyarmudu (Pergamos).
- Nearly 500 cases in the south – 29 new cases were identified in the south on Tuesday.
- “Furlough” – Labour Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu said his ministry has proposed businesses the formula of granting “furlough” to employees rather than laying them off from work. He also added that the closed business will also be exempted from making Social Security and Provident Fund payments.
We are hurting
The coronavirus which claimed thousands of lives around the world claimed the life of a thırd person in the TRNC. 74-year-old Ümit Tilki who was receiving treatment at the ICU of the pandemic hospital lost his life due to complications caused by Covid-19. He became the third person in the TRNC and the first citizen to lose his life from the virus. According to the statement issued by the health ministry, Tilki had underlying health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
- Two more people in quarantine – Two more people from Kyrenia were admitted to the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu Hospital yesterday (Tuesday) after displaying symptoms of Covid-19. According to hospital sources, the two who had come into contact with other patients and who are displaying the symptoms will be tested and kept under observation.
What else could one want
The rooms of the dormitory in which citizens arriving from London will remain in quarantine have opening windows, their shower and toilet, kitchen and internet.
- Third death – While two new cases were recorded in North Cyprus bringing the total number to 94, 74-year-old Ümit Tilki lost his life.
- Tests mainly carried out in Paphos – Cases in South Cyprus rose to 494 with 29 new cases.
- Loss of life 725 – 3892 new cases in Turkey bringing the total number to 34,109.
- Under control – Anastasiades’s bodyguard tests positive for coronavirus.
The charter flights must be stopped
Experienced doctors warn but the government does not listen. Former Chief of Surgery at the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu Hospital, Bülent Dizdarlı said that flights (repatriating Turkish Cypriots) pose high risks. He asked: “So why are we all staying at home? We might as well go out and get infected.” Dizdarlı also noted that the flights are also very risky for the passengers.
- What will happen to other patients? – TIP-İŞ (TC Doctors’ Union) president Ahmet Varış objected to converting the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu into a pandemic hospital. He said, “This is a mistake” and urged the authorities to correct their mistake immediately.
- Another flight from Ankara to Ercan (Tymbou) – It is announced there will be another chartered Turkish Airlines flight from Ankara Esenboğa Airport to Ercan (Tymbou) airport.
- 29 new cases in the south – 1353 tests were administered on Tuesday. 29 cases were confirmed. 13 patients in critical condition.
- “Don’t rely on the rapid tests” – Greek Cypriot Health Minister warns.
Main News
North records first TC Covid-19 death, two new cases
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Two more coronavirus cases were confirmed in the north on Tuesday, bringing the total there to 94, while a third death was announced.
A 74-year-old Turkish Cypriot man died early on Tuesday from complications caused by the coronavirus raising the number of deaths in the north to three.
The man, who had underlying health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure is the first Turkish Cypriot to die of the virus in the north.
The two other deaths concern German tourists.
Around 40 Turkish Cypriots living in the UK have also died from the virus.
Later on Tuesday, Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ali Pilli announced that two more people tested positive, bringing the total number to 94.
While one of the cases was detected in Lapta (Lapithos) the other was recorded in Beyarmudu (Pergamos).
Pilli, told reporters during his daily press briefing, that a total of 138 tests were carried out on Tuesday, bringing the total number of tests conducted to date 3246.
He reminded that 44 patients have been discharged so far and that 47 people were still being treated for Covid-19.
Pilli said that all three individuals who died from Covid-19 in the north so far had underlying health problems and were above a certain age.
“This is why it is extremely important for younger people, who tend towards being asymptomatic carriers of the virus to remain home, to exercise social distancing and to wear masks and gloves when going out. They may not display symptoms but could continue to infect others around them,” he warned.
Also speaking, the Chief of Surgery at the Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital in the northern part of Nicosia Dr Adil Özyılkan said that they currently had 60 ventilators with more expected to arrive later this month.
“Once our orders arrive we shall have a total of 150 ventilators,” he said, adding that there were 333 doctors and 828 nurses ready for duty.
In the meantime, repatriated students and individuals from the UK who completed their mandatory 14-day quarantine in hotels or other facilities in Alsancak (Karavas), Kyrenia, Famagusta and Nicosia were allowed to go home on Tuesday.
Despite having completed their 14 days on Saturday, the students were kept under quarantine for an additional three days after two students and a seven-year-old child at the Riverside Hotel in Alsancak (Karavas) tested positive for Covid-19 shortly before their release.
The remaining students tested negative and were allowed to go after health authorities confirmed there had been no contact with the three and the remaining individuals, all who had arrived on the same charter flight on 21 March.
An additional 168 Turkish Cypriots trapped in London were repatriated on Wednesday.
The Turkish Cypriots, mostly students but also ordinary citizens who were in the UK for medical treatment arrived at Ercan (Tymbou) Airport on a charter flight shortly after midnight.
A second group will be arriving at midnight on Thursday.
All will be placed in quarantine at dormitories in Güzelyurt (Morphou).
Turkish Cypriot Public Works and Communication Minister Tolga Atakan told Bayrak that there were still many Turkish Cypriots in the UK who were wishing to return.
Atakan also said that efforts were underway to arrange charter flights from Ankara for Turkish Cypriots stuck there.
He said they were experiencing difficulties in arranging flights due to the measures in place both in the UK and Turkey.
In a related development, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said on Tuesday that they were suspending all repatriation efforts for the time being in line with a recommendation made by the Covid-19 Coordination Council.
Addressing reporters at Pilli’s daily briefing, he said no new charter flights would be arranged as of 8 April until further notice nor would Turkish Cypriots planning to travel from Turkey via ferry be allowed to enter the country.
“We are expecting our citizens stuck abroad to be understanding. Those who have been repatriated are being kept in hotels or facilities under quarantine for 14 days and you would all understand this is not an easy process,” he said
Earlier on Tuesday, the head of the council, Dr Sibel Siber recommended that the government block all entry into the country for 15 days on grounds that all positive cases detected in the north were either people who recently arrived from abroad or who had contact with these individuals.
She pointed out that strict quarantine conditions were needed for repatriated persons, especially those arriving from countries where there were a high number of cases.
Siber added that the authorities needed to take into consideration the limited number of ICU units and quarantine facilities when deciding to repatriate more people.
In another development, the Mayor of Lefke (Lefka) Aziz Kaya announced on Tuesday that all entries and exits to the district were being controlled by municipal staff.
He said that vehicles which were entering the area were being disinfected and drivers were subject to temperature screenings.
In the meantime, police reported on Tuesday that a total of 67 people were arrested last 24 hours for flouting the partial and night-time curfew.
48 of them violated partial curfew rules while 19 were caught outside after 9 pm.
All were arrested and booked, reports said.
İŞAD: A new cabinet for the crisis needed
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, Governance and Power Sharing, Economy
OVERVIEW
“A new crisis government needs to be established with experts in the field and related areas,” Enver Mamülcü, head of the Turkish Cypriot business people association (İŞAD) said on Tuesday.
In a written statement, Mamülcü said if this is not possible than an impartial administrative structure that includes the active participation of expert councils in the decision-making processes.
He argued that the current government could not weather the coronavirus crisis for long with its current financial and human resources.
Mamülcü said that even though the cabinet has been managing the health aspect of the crisis relatively well, the actions and decisions of both coalition partners will still very much motivated by the upcoming presidential elections later this year.
“Both leading members of the coalition, who also happen to be candidates in the upcoming elections, are unable to rid themselves off populist actions or rhetoric to establish a sustainable economic structure which is a requirement for being a social welfare state,” Mamülcü argued.
As a result, he added the cabinet can only come up with arbitrary measures which fail to satisfy both the business community and the public.
“It is the perfect time to seize the opportunities presented by the crisis to re-design the political structure in the north and establish new state policies,” Mamülcü stressed.
He urged the authorities to amend existing laws and draft new ones for a functional administrative structure.
“If we do not revise ourselves and establish a better structure, we will be seriously endangering the future of the state and our children. If we fail to adapt, as the world is going to be reshaped following the coronavirus pandemic, we will be crushed under our failures,” Mamülcü warned.
Another criticism towards the government came from the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Doğuş Derya on Monday.
In a social media post, Derya argued the government is far from delivering its responsibilities to help the people overcome the economic downfall caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“The government, while slashing public servants’ salaries, has not taken any decisions to reduce the cost of basic utilities in homes,” Derya argued.
She said introducing pay-cuts could not be considered an economic measure as people who were being forced to stay home ended up spending more basic utilities such as water, gas and electricity.
Derya argued that at times of economic crisis, the authorities should have also minimized its expenses to lower the cost of living.
“Will the AKSA power plant, which has been earning millions, make any sacrifices during these difficult times?” Derya asked.
She said that even though KIBTEK (Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority) had announced it was lowering electricity prices by 15 per cent until June on the condition consumers paid their bills on time, the government had done nothing to reduce the amount it pays to the private energy company, which it has a purchasing guarantee agreement with.
Meanwhile, teachers, students and course attendees at the Famagusta State Vocational School have started to produce face-masks.
Redif Güvensoy, the school headmaster, expressed his gratitude to the volunteers who were racing against time to meet the demand in the market for masks.
Three Syrian migrants detained in Famagusta
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Migration & Citizenship, Internal Security, Human Rights, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot police arrested three undocumented Syrian nationals in Famagusta on Monday night during routine controls, the dailies reported on Wednesday.
A police investigation revealed that the three men had entered the north through unlawful means from an unofficial port.
It is reported that the investigation on the case continues.