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Return to life
The lockdown which has been going on in Cyprus for over a month-and-half due to the Covid-19 outbreak is being partially eased today. Many businesses in the north for the exception of the tourism sector, entertainment venues, bars, cinemas, hairdressers, barbers, wedding halls, night clubs, betting offices and casinos are reopening today (Monday). In the south, similar steps are being taken. Construction sites, shops (except for malls), farmers markets, the public sector, small businesses and courts are opening.
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Let’s get back to work
Many of the businesses are resuming work today (Monday) following a month and a half long lockdown as part of measures adopted to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The partial curfew has been lifted but will continue on Sundays. Shop owners cleaned up their businesses yesterday (Sunday), preparing to implement necessary hygiene and social distancing rules. The travel ban from one district to another has been also been lifted. The night-time curfew will continue until May 15. Both pharmacies and banks return to their normal working hours as of today (Monday). The supermarkets will shut at 8 pm. It is still mandatory to wear masks when going out.
- The retail price of thermometers range from ₺400 (€53) to ₺600 (€80) – The price of thermometers in the market has doubled due to an increase in demand. The reopening process also increased the retail prices of masks, surgical gloves and disinfectants.
- Food-delivery service might not be cost-effective – The restaurant owners, though pleased with the reopening process, are concerned whether or not there will be any demand for takeaway services. The restaurants, in line with the health ministry requirements, are preparing to resume services as of May 11.
- Bad days expected for the Turkish Lira – Economist Okan Veli Şafaklı said the coronavirus crisis has changed people’s investment priorities making “gold” and “US dollars” the most trusted assets. As a result of the new tendency, the Turkish Lira is likely to weaken further, Şafaklı warned.
Dangerous opening
Many sectors in the north, provided they fulfil certain criteria, will reopen today (Monday) as a result of a cabinet decision. However, the rise in coronavirus cases in countries where measures have been relaxed is frightening. 60 sectors are resuming their activities following a 51-day hiatus. Restaurant and fast-food outlets must test their personnel for coronavirus before they can start food-delivery services. Many experts are concerned that there will be a sharp increase in the number of cases following the first stage of the reopening process.
- We are far behind the south – According to the World Freedom of Press index, the north is listed at the 77th place whereas the south side ranks 27th. Turkey is listed in 180th place.
- Teachers’ unions reject the decree – Both KTÖS (Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ union) and KTOEÖS (Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers’ Union) have rejected the education ministry’s call for teachers to return to schools. The unions demand that school teachers should be tested and that schools should be disinfected.
- The latest situation: North 108 cases, four deaths; South 872 cases, 15 deaths; Turkey 126,045 cases, 3,397 deaths.
Details of the conversation were not made public
Two people arrested for spreading a recorded telephone conversation between Prime Minister Ersin Tatar and a woman living in Turkey named Fatma Zühal Kılınç appeared in court. The two are being charged with violating the privacy of an individual.
- All came back clean – 507 people were tested in North Cyprus yesterday (Sunday)
- 1,968 tests in one day – Eight new cases in South Cyprus bringing the total figure to 872.
- Death toll – The total number of cases in Turkey has reached 126,045 with an increase of 1,670.
Let’s go out on to the streets 42 days later
Some of the measures adopted in early March ends today (Monday). Some of the businesses will be reopened. The restriction on travelling from one district to another and the partial curfew have been lifted. The night-time curfew continues. It is still mandatory to wear masks when going out. Moreover, there will a curfew on Sundays starting from May 10 onwards.
- Tatar refutes Pilli’s comments – Ersin Tatar refutes Pilli’s statement on the reopening of schools, stating that the cabinet has not adopted a decision on the schools yet.
- Three positives in rapid tests – PCR tests will be carried out on three individuals, who tested positive in ‘rapid tests’. 504 tests were carried out in the north on Sunday in total. Eight new cases identified in the south.
- Some of the soldiers sent to the hospital – Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus (Turkish army) soldiers deployed to the north were examined by health workers at the port. Some have been sent to the hospital.
- KTÖS rejects the education ministry decree – The Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Union announced they will not return to the schools.
Main News
The drop in the Press Freedom Index worrying, says Akıncı
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
President Mustafa Akıncı on Sunday said that the north’s drop in the World Press Freedom Index by three places should be perceived as a concerning development in terms of freedoms.
Akıncı, in a statement issued to mark World Press Freedom Day, said that the assessment which made based on concrete criteria revealed the reason for the drop.
He added that it was essential that these issues were addressed to become a truly democratic society.
Akıncı pointed out that the north had a long history of intolerance towards the freedom of the press with plenty of examples of attacks.
“It is not possible to assert that we have established freedom of speech and the freedom of the press with all its elements,” said Akıncı, adding that violations of both were witnessed from time to time.
He underlined the importance of waging a joint struggle despite differences in views and opinions.
“It should not be forgotten that the freedom of the press is not only directly linked with the freedom of speech but the access to accurate or reliable news and information. Both are indispensable components of democracies,” Akıncı stressed.
He explained that journalists, like most other professions, were negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
“The most visible impact is the deterioration of economic conditions of journalists and the difficulties media organisations find in operating under the current circumstances,” Akıncı said.
He added that providing job security for journalists at this time was just as important as preserving and protecting freedoms.
The Covid-19 pandemic is far from over, warns Pilli
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ali Pilli on Sunday warned that the Covid-19 pandemic was far from over and that the public needed to exercise caution more than ever, particularly now that the first phase of easing restrictions and the lockdown was in motion.
Hundreds of businesses, establishments and shops, reopened on Monday, after remaining closed for almost two months as part of measures to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Schools, all forms of entertainment venues or businesses which require close social contact such as barbers, hairdressers and beauty salons remain closed.
The move has been heavily criticized by health experts who warn that not enough testing has been carried in the north to assess the level of asymptomatic cases.
Surprisingly no new cases have been reported for the past two weeks.
The last positive case was reported on April 17.
Pilli, in a statement on Monday, said that restrictions could not be imposed forever and that it was important for people to integrate the measures with their lives.
He also pointed out that it was of paramount importance that businesses which will start operating on Monday implement safety and health regulations announced by the health ministry.
“These regulations and rules include maintaining hygiene conditions, practising social distancing, wearing masks and of implementing protocols for employees who display Covid-19 symptoms,” he said.
Pilli added that the health ministry should be notified immediately in the event an employee displays Covid-19 symptoms.
He reminded that individuals could be asymptomatic carriers of the virus and should, therefore, act accordingly.
“There are dozens of examples in the history of pandemics where societies which relaxed measures too soon were hit by more devastating second waves,” he said.
Pilli warned that there was a general public misperception that the worst was over and that people had started slacking in implementing measures.
“The pandemic is far from over. It will not be over until it is over in neighbouring countries and the world,” he said.
Pilli underlined the importance of adhering to personal measures and for the public to act responsibly.
“People should continue to avoid crowded spaces unless necessary and people between older than 65 and younger than 17 should not go out unless needed,” he said.
In another development, Universal Patients’ Rights Association pointed to inequality on issues ranging from access to health services, rehabilitation, isolation and working from home on Sunday.
In a statement titled ‘Priorities and lessons learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic’, the association said, “We have learnt we are not all on the same boat after all.”
Arguing that the inequalities can only be removed by identifying the causes of it, the association referred to the poverty report, which was recently published by the Economic Advisory Board of the Office of the President.
The report states there could be an economic shrinkage up to 40 per cent, which will triple the number of people living below the poverty threshold.
The report also drew attention to the possibility of a rise in social unrest and other social problems as the poverty level grows substantially.
“The state should strive to mobilize its resources in a fair, equal and effective manner to ensure that everyone in need of health care services, primarily the disadvantaged and marginalized individuals in the community, has access to preventive measures and therapeutic health services,” the association stressed.
It also drew attention to the need to improve the infrastructure and resources of public health services.
“Public health services should be expanded and made equally accessible and available to all living in the north,” the statement read.
The association also urged the authorities to invest in the construction of a pandemic hospital and to increase testing capabilities.
In addition to having a strong public health system, the statement also highlighted the importance of creating a health map of the community.
“The mapping exercise would assist the authorities in planning, identifying risk groups and their locations. Moreover, the mapping would also allow the authorities to assess the number of medical workers and equipment and supplies,” the association added.
Noting that the eight per cent allocation of the budget to health was inadequate to cover the health needs, the association said the authorities must increase healthcare funds in the next budget.
“To achieve a solid public health system in the north, a strong political will is essential in addition to having adequate financial and human resources,” the association concluded.
In another development on Sunday, the teachers’ unions in the north slammed the cabinet, namely the education ministry calling on schools and teachers to start preparations to reopen schools.
KTOEÖS (Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers’ Union) urged the teachers not to obey the education minister’s call for teachers to start work on Monday 4.
It also harshly criticised the education minister’s statement on the possibility of opening schools on May 15.
The union urged its members not to follow the ministry decision until the teachers and the school personnel are tested and the necessary health and hygiene conditions are met in schools.
KTÖS (Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Union) in a statement issued on Sunday, refused to report at schools in line with the education ministry decision and announced they will refuse to go back to schools until the teachers are tested and the schools have been disinfected.
Tentative hopes tourism may restart in June
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, Economy
OVERVIEW
The tourism sector could make its first tentative steps to reopening in June, Turkish Cypriot Tourism Minister Ünal Üstel said on Sunday but clarified that this will depend on the coronavirus situation.
Üstel met with representatives of political parties on Sunday to discuss the way forward in the tourism sector as well as possible measures to be adopted.
The leader of the Democratic Party (DP) Fikri Ataoğlu, Social Democratic Party (TDP) MP Zeki Çeler and Gültekin Ben from the Rebirth Party (YDP) were present at the meeting which focused on preparing a roadmap for the tourism sector.
The Republican Turkish Party (CTP) presented its views and recommendations in writing.
Üstel, speaking during the meeting, said that the views of the opposition were important for the government.
He added that efforts were underway to prepare the tourism sector for the 2020 summer season in light of views presented by the Scientific Council.
“We want to complete all preparations and create guidelines by the time we are ready to reopen the sector. We are currently focusing on six areas. The domestic market, the European market, hotels and restaurants as well as sea and air travel,” he said.
Üstel pointed out that it was difficult to predict when the pandemic would be over or when it would be possible to resume tourism activities.
“This, however, does not mean we can’t prepare the conditions,” he said.
Üstel added that it was unrealistic to expect tourists from third-countries to visit the island this summer and that the focus was on attracting people domestically and perhaps from Turkey.
He expressed the view that North Cyprus could become a tourist hotspot the following season if it succeeds in eradicating the virus on the island.
“We have currently launched promotion efforts for the Turkish market and we will want to draw tourists from Turkey once the pandemic subsides there,” he added.
Üstel said they were also holding talks with airline companies to reduce ticket prices but that the new scheme will be contingent on the government opening the airports.
“Turkish Airlines is planning to start flights as of June 12. We are planning to partially open hotels and beaches by mid-June. Beds and showers at beaches will be subject to rules and regulations to be set by the Scientific Council,” he said.