Front Page Headlines
Our test and case numbers are low, the death rate is high
Pulmonologist Dr Aldağ: “So far we’ve had five patients, only one survived. This virus starts with minimum symptoms but becomes radically aggressive.” Head of TIP-İŞ (Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Union) Dr Varış: “Being admitted to ICU is increases risk of death. They shouldn’t make us choose between patients.” Infectious Diseases expert Dr Bayraktar: “The 54-year-old patient was doing well. His lungs had recovered from the treatment and just as we were preparing to take him out of the ICU he suffered a heart attack.” The death rate in the north of Cyprus from Covid-19 as of 14 April is four per cent. The death rate in the south is 1.4 per cent. The total number of tests carried out in the south is 20,537. Over 1,403 people have died in Turkey where there are more than 65,000 cases. The death rate is 2.15 per cent.
- Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Health Working Group: “Criteria for exit strategy needs to be established” – The CTP health working group makes recommendations for an exit strategy.
- Support payment scheme broadened –Self-employed architects, lawyers, accountants will be eligible to receive support payment of ₺1,500 (€205). Those working in daycare centres, etudes and education centres will also be eligible for support payment. Workers in the media sector and taxi drivers have been included in the scheme.
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The economic effects of the virus will last for years
The coronavirus pandemic, while continues to claim lives all over the world, has also turned economic balances upside down. Economists warn the effects of the crisis will last for years to come in the north. The pandemic threatens mass bankruptcy and surge of unemployment. The economic stagnation made people in need of aid. Both sector representatives and workers are crying for help. The cabinet attempted to provide economic support but no one is pleased with the measures. Many of the sector representatives are also worried about how the economy will be once the pandemic is over. Sector representatives also insist on the creation of an exit strategy.
- 60,000 people will benefit from the employment support payment – The cabinet finalized the regulation on the employment support payment scheme. Employees of closed business will benefit from the ₺1500 (€205) payment, while the open businesses will receive a social security premium support of ₺500 (€69) per employee.
- Increase in domestic violence cases – Dr Ömür Yılmaz, project coordinator for Nicosia Turkish Municipality (LTB) project named “Side by side against violence,” points out.
- Four new cases in the north – Two cases were among people in the quarantine facilities and two others from İskele (Trikomo).
The government is a disappointment
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Sıla Usar İncirli criticised the cabinet’s decisions on the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. She said the economic measures are disappointing. İncirli accused the National Unity Party (UBP) – People’s Party (HP) coalition of disregarding the opposition parties. She noted the UBP-HP coalition does not stand behind its decisions and added any decision adopted today can be changed the next day. Dr İncirli also underlined the importance of deciding on a pandemic hospital and asked to spare the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu hospital from the alternatives. “The people can also die of other causes, other than Covid-19,” İncirli said.
- €30m pressure on the EU – MEP Niyazi Kızılyürek sent a letter to the European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen asking for the European Union (EU) to prepare a socio-economic aid package for the Turkish Cypriot community.
- Support us instead of cutting from us – The municipalities, which are trying to respond to people’s needs during the coronavirus pandemic plead with the cabinet to support them instead of cutting state subsidies.
- They have corrected their mistake – The cabinet decided to include the sectors that were left out of the first package including the media workers. Sami Özuslu, head of the Turkish Cypriots Journalists’ Association thanked everyone for putting pressure on the cabinet to amend its decision.
- The latest situation: North 105 cases four deaths, South 715 cases 12 deaths, Turkey 69392 cases 1518 deaths.
‘Final project worth ₺90m’
Government broadens support payments of ₺1,500 (€205) for private-sector employees to include 60,000 people. The Council of Ministers decided to amend the scope of the support payment scheme following reactions from various sectors. The scheme which initially covered 50,000 private-sector employees was raised to 60,000. As a result, the amount of money allocated for support payment went up from ₺75m (€9.9m) to ₺90m (€11.9m).
- The figure has gone up to 105 – Five new cases of coronavirus was confirmed in North Cyprus
- Supermarkets were screened – Cases in South Cyprus reach 715 with 20 new cases.
- Loss of life 1518 – 4,281 new cases in Turkey. The total number of cases reach 69,392.
- Two thousand expected to arrive weekly – 226 more Greek Cypriots were repatriated.
- Hot money to flow in –The Greek Cypriot administration is preparing to reintroduce the ‘Golden Passport’ scheme.
I’m not saying a disaster could be experienced, I’m saying it’s going to happen
Dr Bülent Dizdarlı once again warned the government which is impatiently planning and rushing to re-open some public-sector offices which will generate revenue to the finance ministry. The former chief physician at the Nicosia State Hospital said that lifting restrictions without building a pandemic hospital will spell disaster. He warned it was not a possibility but a guarantee.
- New cases. Five in the north, 20 in the South – While 176 tests were carried out in the north, 2312 tests were carried out in the south.
- A pandemic explosion in open sectors in the south – It’s been feared that cases have spread through supermarkets, bakeries, butchers and grocery stores.
- Frightening figures – 21,000 in Italy, 18,000 in Spain, 15,000 in France and 12,000 in the US.
- Government’s support package: It’s been announced who will be eligible – All employees in open sectors will receive a social security premium support of ₺500 (€69). Architects, engineers, lawyers and accountants will benefit from the ₺1,500 (€205). Shopkeepers who employee up to four people will be eligible for support payments, including themselves. Those who employee more than four people will not be eligible themselves.
Main News
Five new cases confirmed, two of them asymptomatic
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Five people tested positive for the coronavirus in the north on Wednesday after 176 tests were conducted, bringing the total confirmed cases to 105.
Earlier on Wednesday evening, Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ali Pilli announced the first two cases, explaining that both individuals were being kept in isolation.
He said one individual was a repatriated Turkish Cypriot being kept in isolation at a dormitory in Güzelyurt (Morphou) while the other was a foreign worker at the Riverside Hotel in Alsancak (Karavas) where repatriated Turkish Cypriots had been kept in quarantine.
Just, hours later the number of cases jumped to five.
Pilli, speaking on a late-night news programme on Kanal T, said a couple from İskele (Trikomo) aged 82 and 78, neither of whom had symptoms had tested positive.
The husband, who was to have surgery, tested positive to the virus during pre-surgery tests.
The fifth person who tested positive was another repatriated individual who was in isolation in a quarantined hotel in Kyrenia.
Pilli also announced that eight more patients had been discharged on Wednesday, bringing the total number of recovered patients 74.
There are currently 24 patients receiving treatment, none in ICU.
Turkish Cypriot Deputy Prime Minister Kudret Özersay, speaking after Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, reassured the public that the health officials knew exactly how the two individuals who tested positive had been infected.
“There is nothing uncertain about how the two cases have been infected. The health authorities diligently followed the patient’s contact history,” he said
Meanwhile, the Covid-19 Science Board convened on Wednesday to discuss the way forward and the possibility of gradually re-opening various businesses and sectors.
The meeting was chaired by Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar and Health Minister Ali Pilli.
Tatar told reporters that all aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic were discussed as well as the way forward.
He recalled that the cabinet had taken swift measures following the first confirmed case in the north following the advice and recommendations of health experts.
“Our priority from the beginning has been the public’s health and any decision we taken from this point onwards will be based on the scientific data and experts’ opinions,” he said.
Tatar added that the meeting had also focused on which measures could be taken before re-opening public offices and private businesses.
“We shall show the same sensitivity we did when introducing the measures when lifting them. All I am asking from the public is for them to abide by the measures in place, to respect the curfews, to avoid going out as much as possible, to maintain social distancing and hand hygiene at all times. We all need to be a little more patient as well,” he added.
In a related development, the Republican Turkish Party’s (CTP) Health Working Group on Wednesday said it was important to establish a proper exit-strategy and formulate criteria before reopening businesses to prevent a new outbreak of cases.
The working group published a list of recommendations which include the relocation the pandemic centre located within the main hospital building in Nicosia to another facility, increasing the hospital’s ICU capacity in terms of beds and ventilators, to provide all employees of reopened public or private enterprises with necessary protective gear, to conduct more Covid-19 tests, regularly inspect all businesses and offices opened and to increase tracking and tracing efforts.
Earlier on Wednesday, Özersay said that they were working on a road map to free the north of the virus and its implications.
In a written statement, Özersay said it was the government’s historical responsibility to guide the Turkish Cypriot community out of the current crisis.
He pointed out that it was possible to eradicate the virus in the north by detecting positive cases and strengthening the health system.
Özersay said that the second and harder stage would be when the borders were re-opened allowing people to come into the north.
“One possibility is that the virus could mutate and transform into something less harmful such as the common flu. Other possibilities include the development of a vaccine soon or to keep our borders closed until one is found,” he said.
Özersay said another option would be to allow people to come into the north through a quarantine system and allowing the population to slowly contract the virus in a controlled fashion.
He added that the important thing was to be in control of the situation which was what the north had succeeded in doing with the swift measures it had taken.
In another development on Wednesday, the Mayor of Dipkarpaz (Rizokarpaso) Suphi Çoşkun said they had taken measures to ensure that Greek Cypriots living in the area did not experience any difficulties.
He said that Greek Cypriots living in the village were given special permits to travel to the nearby town of Yenierenköy (Yialousa) top pick up the cheques delivered from the south.
Also on Wednesday, the Bağımsılık İttifakı (Independence Alliance) has called on both sides to convert the Ledra Palace Hotel in the UN-controlled buffer zone in a pandemic hospital.
In a written statement issued on Wednesday, the alliance said acceptance of medical supplies from the south to be used in the fight against Coronavirus was a gesture aimed at developing relations between the two sides.
It also said that the currently vacated Ledra Palace Hotel could be used as a joint pandemic hospital as another goodwill gesture of both sides.
“Mr Akıncı should consult and seek the approval of the government when undertaking such initiatives,” the statement added.
Kızılyürek urges EC to urgently prepare a relief package for TCs
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, Economy
OVERVIEW
“It is vital for the European Commission (EC) to prepare an emergency socio-economic relief package for the Turkish Cypriot community,” Akel MEP Niyazi Kızılyürek said on Wednesday.
In a written statement, Kızılyürek said a €30m financial aid, which is not a significant amount of money for the European Union (EU), could help heal wounds of the Turkish Cypriot community.
“It is time for the EC to show solidarity with the Turkish Cypriots,” he stressed.
Kızılyürek noted he had also shared his concerns for the Turkish Cypriot community in a letter addressed to EC President Ursula von der Leyen in addition to the written question submitted to the Commission on 2 April.
In his letter, Kızılyürek pointed out that 80 per cent of the businesses in the north were currently closed as a result of the measures in place.
He added that economy experts and analysts were predicting a serious economic recession for the Turkish Cypriot economy in the period ahead.
“The Turkish Cypriot community has neither the financial instruments to cope with a crisis at this magnitude nor access to EU funds due to the suspension of the Acquis communautaire in the north,” Kızılyürek said. He added, therefore, the EC’s financial aid has become vital.
“The EC must prepare a relief package without further delay for the Turkish Cypriot community to overcome the economic strife,” Kızılyürek concluded.
The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) on Wednesday reminded the cabinet that its main responsibility was to protect the private sector workers.
In a written statement, KTTO urged the cabinet to amend the “employment support scheme” regulation to include everyone.
“KTTO insists that the cabinet without distinguishing between the establishments whether they are open or closed, must provide financial aid to employees of all registered businesses,” the statement read.
The chamber also argued the cabinet was trying to impose certain responsibilities on employers through the support scheme.
“The cabinet’s attempts to force the employers to agree with the provisions are unethical. Such behaviour is not only unlawful but is also unacceptable,” the chamber said.
Accusing the cabinet of trying to forego its main responsibilities dictated through the social security and the provident fund laws, KTTO stressed the cabinet’s decisions to try to avoid its responsibilities emanating from the laws will also not be accepted.
“We urge the cabinet to revise its decisions and amend the regulation on the support scheme in light of the Social Security and Provident Fund law and deliver its main responsibilities towards the private sector workers,” KTTO concluded.
Meanwhile, the cabinet announced on Wednesday evening that it had made amendments to the support scheme following criticisms and recommendations from the different sectors.
Özersay, explaining the changes made to the regulation, said the support scheme now covered up to 60,000 employees working in both operating and closed businesses.
“The new provisions provide financial support to both open and closed businesses upon online applications however in different forms,” he said, adding that “the scheme envisages payment of ₺90m (€11.9m),” Özersay added the detailed announcement on the changed provisions will be made by the Labour Minister in due time.
He said the open businesses will receive a ₺500 (€69) in social security premium payment support per person/employee.
He said the cabinet has also added new criteria to include sectors previously excluded.
“There are three criteria now for the self-employed category. Firstly, persons who run their business alone will be entitled to receive a contribution of ₺1500 (€205). Business owners who employ one individual also be entitled to receive support payments. However, employers who employee more than one person will not be eligible for support payment,” Özersay said.
He noted lawyers, architects, engineers, and accountants will be included in this category.
Özersay said a second category was created for shopkeepers/artisans or small business owners.
Such individuals will be eligible to receive support payment if s/he has up to four employees. In this case, both the employer and the four employees will be entitled to support. If there are more than four employees, the employer will be left out of the scheme,” Özersay explained.
He noted tuition centres, kindergartens, and other retailers, shopkeepers, and artisans will be included under this category.
Özersay also stressed the support payments will be deposited directly to the bank accounts of the employers and they will be entitled to receive the support as long as they are registered with the social security department.
In a separate statement on Wednesday, the head of the Turkish Cypriot Restauranteurs’ Association (Res-Bir) Salih Kayım said that restaurants did not want to be responsible for spreading the coronavirus.
Kayım, speaking on Bayrak, said the majority of restaurant owners shared the same opinion.
“We are doing well in containing the virus in the north and we as restaurant owners through our food delivery service do not want to be the sector spreading the virus. We do not want to jeopardise our reputation,” Kayım stressed.
He also rejected the cabinet’s plans to reopen food delivery services.
“As Res-Bir, we will wait until the health authorities announce we have overcome the threat of the virus,” Kayım concluded.
A similar concern was raised by the head of the Turkish Cypriot Contractors’ Association Cafer Gürcafer.
In a written statement on Wednesday, Gürcafer said the sector was not ready to resume work on April 17.
He argued that the north was doing far better than most countries because of the swift and timely measures that had been taken.
Gürcafer said that it was evident the health authorities had not been able to adequately prepare the infrastructure to deal with a larger outbreak of cases.
He added that the association was prepared to do all it could to help the authorities improve the country’s health infrastructure.
“The cabinet and the members of the parliament have an unmatched and historical opportunity to create a new state that is fair and sustainable,” Tuygun Töre, board member of İŞAD (Turkish Cypriot Businessperson’ Association said on Wednesday.
In a written statement, Töre argued the current system in the north was the main reason for the difficulties experienced by the authorities in dealing with the current crisis.
“As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, many of the problems we had swept under the carpet have surfaced again,” he said.
Urging the politicians to seize the opportunity before them, Töre concluded by expressing his hope to lay the foundations for a structure in which no one will complain about health, the justice system, or education system.
Rise in domestic violence despite fall in stats
Havadis
Human Rights, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
An important rise in domestic violence has been recorded since the coronavirus pandemic restrictions have been introduced, Dr Ömür Yılmaz, project coordinator for the Nicosia Turkish Municipality’s (LTB) “Side by side against Violence” project said on Wednesday.
She said that despite the rise victims’ access to support mechanisms were restricted.
In a statement issued from the LTB, Yılmaz said the decrease in the number of calls to hotlines and support mechanisms should not be deceiving.
On the contrary, Yılmaz said the decrease in calls should be concerning.
She added the pandemic measures had made everyone feel helpless and hopeless. Economic difficulties, unemployment and other difficulties are contributing factors to the rising incidents.
“It is only normal for the victim to feel more fearful at such times but it is also possible that the victim cannot find the moment to call any one of the help-lines available,” she noted.
“The slogan ‘stay at home’ which was followed by a partial curfew, has turned into a nightmare for the victims, as they become imprisoned in an environment in which they are subjected to physical and psychological violence,” Yılmaz stressed.
Referring to a poll conducted by the project, Yılmaz said 40 per cent of the women in the Turkish Cypriot community in total suffer from domestic violence.
“The poll results showed a breakdown in the violence based on victims’ testimonies and in this respect, 20 per cent suffered strangulation; 18 per cent suffered bodily harm with an abrasive tool like a knife; 60 per cent suffered psychological violence, 25 per cent suffered sexual violence and 50 per cent on restrictions on the victim’s friends,” she said.
Yılmaz urged people not to remain silent against domestic violence and asked them to share the help-line numbers with the victims they know of or call the police or the LTB directly.
Side by side against violence” project is managed by the LTB and is financed by the European Union (EU).
Turkish UAVs in the East Med.
Kıbrıs Postası
External Security, Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The Turkish UAVs (Unarmed Aerial Vehicles) continue to fly reconnaissance flights over the Eastern Mediterranean region, Kıbrıs Postası reports on Thursday.
Turkish Ministry of Defence shared aerial photographs of the Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa seismic research vessel and the Barbaros frigate taken by UAVs on its official Twitter account and said: “Our Navy and the UAVs, which are our eyes in the seas, continue to monitor the Blue Homeland protecting our rights and interests.”
The Barbaros frigate is tasked to accompany and provide security to its namesake – Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa seismic research vessel.