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Precautions inside, contact outside
The cash desks at the Tax Department and KIBTEK (Turkish Cypriot Electricity Authority) were open yesterday (Wednesday). The measures taken inside were not applied outside the offices. While the area inside the Tax Department was frequently sprayed with disinfectants and social distancing was maintained among people waiting in line, those waiting outside did not.
- 32 cases in the south, one new case in the north
- A new decision from Pilli: We shall build a new pandemic hospital with 100 rooms and 200-bed capacity. We have determined where we are going to build it.
- There are more than 300 Cypriots in the UK with Covid-19, over 150 have lost their lives
- Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman: “They are announcing decisions without discussing it in the Council of Ministers.”
- “It’s been 15 days no results yet” – The government announced its economic programme on 25 March but the salary support scheme for the private sector has yet to materialize.
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The virus has also hit butchers badly
The coronavirus pandemic has had a negative affected on everyone economically. The public’s purchasing power has dropped significantly and they have forgotten what it was to visit the butcher. The restaurants are also closed. As a result, meat sales have hit a bottom low.
- “Anything can happen in politics, no need to get offended” – Prime Minister Ersin Tatar on rumours of a cabinet reshuffle, said, “there could always be a change and everyone needs to be ready for it.”
- “We have asked for support from Turkey” – Finance Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu said with a loan to be taken from Turkey, his goal is to get the wheels of the economy turning again.
- One of the coronavirus cases is a pregnant woman – One new case confirmed in the north, bringing the total tally to 95.
- President Mustafa Akıncı will meet with Tatar and Özersay.
- “Let’s work in coordination” – 11 mukhtars from the northern part of Nicosia old town call on the authorities to take action.
- LTB distributed 5000 food packages to date – Nicosia Turkish Municipality Mayor Mehmet Harmancı said the municipality receives nearly 400 calls for assistance every day.
Fighting to stay alive
People in the TRNC are not only waging a fight against Covid-19 but are also fighting an economic battle to stay alive. The public which has lost its income is finding it difficult to put food on the table. Havadis compiled a list of food and cleaning supplies a household needs. The total cost of the 60 items on the list has revealed that living conditions have become tougher than before.
- “Stay home! Use 80 per cent Cologne – TMK (Türk Maarif College) teachers are producing traditional alcohol cologne to be used by doctors and workers at hospitals. The bottles have “Stay home! Use 80 per cent Cologne” written on them.
- Inmates produce – Inmates at the central prison are stitching much-needed masks needed by the public. The masks will be distributed to institutions and municipalities which request them.
‘Corona can’t be a reason’
Well-known divorce lawyer, Boysan Boyra warned couples wanting to get divorced. Boyra said that some couples forced to stay home due to the coronavirus have put off their divorce. He argued that there won’t be a surge in divorce cases once everyone returns to normal life. “My advice to couples is to make use of this opportunity to mend their relationships,” he said.
- Don’t be a victim of the crisis – Citizens who complain there are serious price differences between supermarkets want the state to carry out more inspections.
- 20,000 people to be tested – While the Greek Cypriot Administration extended the lockdown until the 30 April, it announced that those working will have to be tested.
- Woman lead in the number of cases – The majority of the 95 cases in the north are aged between 50-59.
- 24 of them are critical – The number of cases in South Cyprus rose to 526 with 32 new cases.
- Loss of life 812 – 4117 new cases in Turkey. A total of 38,226.
49 positive cases below the age of 60
Health Minister Ali Pilli announced the total number of patients receiving treatment is 64. For the first time, he provided the breakdown of cases. Pilli said there are 14 cases above 60 years of age. There are 28 male and 36 female patients. 3424 tests have been processed to date. The total number of cases is 95 so far and 44 of them have recovered and have been discharged. There are 48 people currently undergoing medical treatment.
- 32 new cases in the south – According to the information given by the Greek Cypriot health ministry, with the latest 32 cases, the total number of cases reached 526 in the south. 24 of them are in critical condition.
- Covid-19 Psychological counselling hotline established – Experts at the psychology ward of the hospital will offer counselling services to callers 24/7.
- Access to Lefke (Lefka) is through Gaziveren (Kazivera).
- The street curfew will be extended – Ersin Tatar said the partial curfew is likely to be extended for another week.
- The new prison can become a pandemic hospital – Following Ali Pilli’s statement on building a new pandemic hospital with 200 beds capacity, Kudret Özersay said the new prison construction can be a pandemic hospital. Özersay denouncing Pilli also noted that such an issue was not raised during the cabinet meeting.
Main News
The curve remains flat with one new case
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 95 in the north on Wednesday, as one more person tested positive for the virus after a bulk of 178 samples were processed by the health officials.
Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ali Pilli, announcing the figures on his daily press briefing, said that there were currently 48 people receiving treatment for coronavirus.
He added that 44 people had been discharged to date and three people had died.
Pilli, sharing the latest statistics said that of the 95 cases, 64 were Turkish Cypriots.
Pilli added that the youngest case was seven while the oldest patient was 82.
“While 36 of the patients to date are female, 28 are male. The majority of patients are aged between 50-59, 16 in total. We also have one pregnant patient,” he said.
He also announced plans for the construction of a 100 room and 200-bed capacity pandemic hospital.
Turkish Cypriot Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay later clarified Pilli’s remarks, stating that the newly completed central prison building which is currently empty could be converted into a pandemic hospital.
He added that the issue was not discussed by the cabinet but that this was what Pilli was probably referred to.
The leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman slammed Pilli for his remarks, accusing members of the government of taking arbitrary decisions without discussing it with the cabinet.
Referring to Pilli’s announcement and follow up remarks by Özerday, Erhürman said, “We don’t have the luxury of announcing or exchanging views such important issues in front of the public before discussing it within the cabinet.”
The CTP leader also said that any decisions concerning the reopening of businesses should be made based on scientific data and nothing else.
Meanwhile, the head of the Covid-19 Coordination Council Dr Sibel Siber on Wednesday voiced the need for an epidemiological study before any of the restrictions in place could be lifted.
Speaking on HaberKıbrıs web TV, Siber said such a study could be carried out within five days and through financial assistance provided by donors.
Siber, referring to a similar study carried out in Iceland, said such a survey would show how resistant the community was against the virus.
“We have carried out about 3000 tests to date but it is not possible to reach anywhere in a short period. What needs to be done is to administer more tests and this is what we call an epidemiological study,” Siber noted.
She added the survey will show how many are infected and whether it is safe to lift the restrictions in place.
“Thus, we can allow the rest of the community to end their isolation and we can start normalizing the life in the north,” Siber concluded.
Peoples’ Party (HP) MP Jale Refik Rogers warned on Wednesday that rushing to get back to normal life could force people to stay home again for long periods.
She said the timely measures taken by the authorities had allowed them to contain the spread of the virus.
Rogers, speaking on Bayrak, also said that the measures needed to be continued for the public’s health despite the economic difficulties.
“This is not only the case here but everywhere else in the world. Economic concerns should not come before the public’s health,” she said.
Rogers argued that the return to normal conditions should be carried in phases.
“I’m not sure we see the entire picture yet. The data we have at hand do not provide us with an accurate picture. We need more testing so that we can isolate asymptomatic cases. The public’s participation here is important. People who hide their symptoms because they are afraid of being ostracised will not get us anywhere. We have seen that delays in seeking treatment can have grave consequences,” she warned.
Rogers added that it was also important to wear masks when going out to prevent the spread of the virus.
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar was more optimistic on Wednesday about returning to normal conditions.
“According to the information given by the Health Ministry, the coronavirus cases curve in the north continues to remain flat but this does not mean we will relax the measures adopted,” Tatar said.
Speaking to Bayrak, Tatar said the strict measures in place in the north, including the closure of all ports of entry, will eventually prove to be positive when the pandemic is over.
He said that the only exceptions made were for repatriating Turkish Cypriots and all were required to remain in isolation in quarantine facilities for 14 days.
Responding to a question on the possibility of reopening certain businesses, Tatar said it will be exactly one month since the first coronavirus case was confirmed on 9 April.
He said the cabinet will decide on future steps in light with recommendations made by the health ministry and other relevant boards made up of health experts.
“We are cautiously optimistic regarding the number of cases in the north but our priority is the public’s health. We have to make the right decisions without rushing,” Tatar stressed.
Earlier on Wednesday, Özersay urged the public to remain patient, show mutual understanding and to empathise.
His remarks came in response to an uproar on social media which ignited after a repatriated student from the UK posted photos and a video complaining that the room given to him at a dormitory in Morphou where he is to spend his 14-day isolation period lacked hygienic conditions.
Following the commotion, Özersay, his Public Works and Communication minister Tolga Atakan and Turkish Cypriot Education Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu visited the dormitory and held inspections.
Çavuşoğlu, speaking to Bayrak, assured the students’ families that the rooms were clean and the students had everything they needed.
Later on Wednesday afternoon, the student apologised publicly on social media.
He said his intention had not been to come across as a spoilt child but wanted the authorities to improve the conditions at the facility they are staying at.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot Interior Minister Ayşegül Baybars on Wednesday said the inmates have started to stitching face masks at the workshops within the central prison.
Baybars expressed her gratitude to the prisoners with a post on social media.
“I wish to thank everyone in the prison for the responsibility they have taken on, the spirit of solidarity they have displayed in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic,” Baybars concluded.
In the meantime, the north’s top brass is set to meet on Thursday to discuss the evolving coronavirus situation in the north as well as the future steps to be taken.
President Akıncı will receive Tatar and Özersay on Thursday.
In another development, President Mustafa Akıncı on Wednesday wished the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was placed in intensive care on Monday night, with complications from Covid-19, a full and speedy recovery on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot people.
According to a statement, Akıncı conveyed his message via telephone to the British High Commissioner to Cyprus Stephen Lillie.
The British High Commissioner for his part thanked Akıncı for his well wishes, stating that the British Prime Minister was in a stable condition.
Wheels of economy to turn with a loan from Turkey
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, Economy
OVERVIEW
“Our goal is to start to get the wheels of the economy turning as soon as possible with a loan to be taken from Turkey,” Turkish Cypriot Finance Minister Olgun Amcaoğlu said on Wednesday.
Speaking during a programme on Bayrak, Amcaoğlu said the Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay was also working on a package for the north.
“In parallel tandem, we at the finance ministry prepared a plan and shared it with Ankara,” Amcaoğlu said, the details of which he added would be made public in the coming days.
He also noted that the state’s monthly domestic revenues dropped from ₺500m (€70m) to ₺200m (€28m).
“It has now become more important for the finance ministry to think twice before allocating our limited funds,” Amcaoğlu stressed.
He said he was open to recommendations from all the stakeholders without prejudices to up come up with a plan which will get them to the end of the year.
Amcaoğlu also warned that people should not expect things to return to normal and the way they were in the coming period.
“We have to plan for the future and manage accordingly. Whatever we have at hand will be equally distributed to all,” Amcaoğlu concluded.
The drop in domestic violence complaints not plausible
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Mehmet Sözmener, head of the police unit against domestic violence, said on Wednesday that they have seen a 12 per cent drop in March compared to t previous months, in the complaints concerning domestic violence.
Speaking during a programme on Bayrak, Sözmener said they received an average of 87 calls per month.
He also noted the unit, following the adoption of measures against the coronavirus, has also implemented their measures.
“Not only the unit is operational 24 hours a day, but members of the police force have also all been briefed on domestic violence as well,” Sözmener said.
Sözmener also appealed to people and asked them to call the police should they hear their neighbours fighting.
Meanwhile, Director of CMIRS (Centre for Migration, Identity and Rights Studies) Mine Yücel, who is also a member of the bicommunal Gender Advisory Team, slammed the news on social media.
She said, “When there’s an increase in domestic violence from 18 per cent to 30 per cent all over the world, these numbers reported for the north cannot be realistic.”
Yücel said that the figures released only revealed that women are not calling the hotline because they are either not alone at home or perhaps are afraid to call.
She urged the authorities to look into why fewer women were making the calls.
“The decrease in the domestic violence calls should not deceive anyone,” CTP MP Fazilet Özdenefe warned.
Speaking during a programme on HaberKıbrıs web TV, Özdenefe pointed to the fact that everyone was forced to remain at home at the moment.
“The authorities must be aware of the fact that during situations like this domestic violence increases. This entails both physical and psychological violence because the victim is forced to live in the same place with the aggressor,” Özdenefe said.
The CTP MP added the lines for complaints must remain open despite the victim feeling unsafe.
She noted that even though all resources have now been channelled to containing coronavirus pandemic, the authorities, on the other hand, must also be able to display the ability to address other social problems.
“It is for this reason the crisis management is vital and it should be done from one centre,” Özdenefe concluded.
Covid-19 will have geopolitical implications
Kıbrıs Postası
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
“The coronavirus pandemic will no doubt have global and regional geopolitical implications,” retired Rear Admiral Cem Gürdeniz said on Wednesday.
Evaluating the developments to Kıbrıs Postası, the namesake for “Blue Homeland,” Gürdeniz said the immediate effect of the pandemic in the Eastern Mediterranean is close to none in the short term.
“I believe there will first be a wait-and-see period but a situation evaluation will be needed in the long term,” Gürdeniz noted.
He pointed out that military operations including exercises have dropped significantly.
“Despite allocating all the resources to the fight against the pandemic, it is nonetheless a success for Turkey to maintain its navy ships off the coast of Libya and to continue with its hydrocarbon drilling activities,” Gürdeniz stressed.
He further argued that Turkey will be able to keep its military advantage even after the coronavirus crisis because it has managed to fill the void caused by the pandemic in the region well.
Gürdeniz, drawing attention to the downward trend in the global oil prices, argued that energy companies will try to keep their hydrocarbon related activities to the minimum.
“This will definitely have an impact on the Greek Cypriot side’s policies in the Eastern Mediterranean and the EastMed pipeline project will be forgotten,” Gürdeniz concluded.