Front Page Headlines
The number of local cases on the rise: “243 active cases, 94 in Nicosia”
42 students and 14 teachers have been infected. Two patients in intensive care. Two people, aged 72 and 84, passed away in the first two days of the New Year. Two doctors and one nurse in the emergency service have been admitted into quarantine. Two patients discharged from the chest diseases ward test positive. One more student at 9 Eylül Primary School tested positive. No decision has been taken for a lockdown. Decisions have been extended until January 10. The night-time curfew has been lifted.
- Even those from UBP (National Unity Party) did not vote for her! –The government could not get Resmiye Canaltay elected as the new Speaker of Parliament. Canaltay was only able to receive 13 of the 48 votes cast. 26 MPs voted against her, three abstained while five of the votes were declared invalid. Even though the secret ballot prevented us from seeing who voted for and against, the outcome could not conceal the fact that Canaltay’s nomination did not receive the support of the 19 UBP MPs.
Curfew lifted
Higher Committee of Infectious Diseases adopted a series of new decisions at its meeting yesterday (Monday). While the committee did not impose another lockdown, it extended its previous decisions to January 10.
- A general lockdown coming in the south – The Greek Cypriot cabinet will convene for an emergency meeting today (Tuesday) after the new strain of the coronavirus was detected in the south.
- A big shock to Canaltay – UBP MP Resmiye Canaltay’s candidacy for the post of the Speaker of Parliament was rejected at yesterday’s (Monday) vote in parliament.
- The increase in taxes is necessary to reflect the cost of living allowance on (public) salaries – Prime Minister Ersan Saner said that the increase in taxes and fees was unavoidable.
Struck by Zorlu’s (Töre) curse
Resmiye Canaltay, whose candidacy for the top post in parliament was approved by 11 votes from UBP’s parliamentary group, was deeply disappointed with the outcome of the vote held in parliament yesterday (Monday) for the Speaker of Parliament. Canaltay received only 13 votes from the 48 MPs who attended the session held on Monday. 26 MPs voted against her, three abstained and five ballots were declared invalid. UBP must nominate another candidate for the new round of voting to be held on Thursday as Canaltay, according to parliament’s bylaws, cannot run again. UBP MP Zorlu Töre had only received five votes during the nomination election held within the UBP.
- Gambling is good but praying is prohibited – The Higher Committee of Infectious Diseases lifted the curfew. It has also decided to extend all the other decisions adopted earlier while once again ignoring the issue of the casinos, which violated the latest measures as seen in New Year celebration videos posted on social media. The committee also prohibited mass events such as mass worship, engagement parties, weddings and other social activities.
- Police controls on home-based quarantine – The police are checking up on people who should be self-isolating at home after coming into contact with the positive cases identified at the 9 Eylül Primary School.
- Panic over the mutated strain of the virus is growing – South Cyprus is on the verge of a new lockdown after the new variant of coronavirus was detected in the south. The Greek Cypriot cabinet will convene to discuss lockdown.
To remain like this for six days
The night-time curfew has been lifted but taverns remain closed. Restaurants will close at 10pm and it has been decided to keep in place the quarantine requirement for workers working in the south. Bars, clubs and massage parlours to remain closed.
- Two Greek Cypriots passed away – 26 new cases in the north, 665 in the south.
Those working on the British Bases exempt but other workers subject to quarantine
According to the latest decisions adopted by the Higher Committee of Infectious Diseases, people residing in Beyarmudu (Pergamos) are allowed to continue with their farming activities in the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) without having to quarantine on their return… Turkish Cypriots residing in Pile (Pyla) will also be allowed to travel to and from the village without being subject to quarantine… However, Turkish Cypriots working in the south are subjected to quarantine requirement until January 10.
- Canaltay could not be elected – Even the UBP MPs did not vote for her.
- Police controls on home-based quarantine – The police are checking on people who have been ordered to self-isolate at home.
- Ali Pilli: “Our vaccination plan is ready” – Pilli: The EU is not clear on the vaccines.
Main News
Canaltay rejected as new TC parliamentary speaker
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
National Unity Party (UBP) MP Resmiye Canaltay on Monday failed to win the support of MPs to become the new speaker of the Turkish Cypriot parliament.
Canaltay, daughter of former Turkish Cypriot leader and long-time party leader Derviş Eroğlu, failed to receive a majority of the 48 votes cast on Monday’s plenary. The vote was held by secret ballot.
She had been nominated by the ruling UBP last week to be the next parliamentary speaker, replacing the Republican Turkish Party’s (CTP) Teberrüken Uluçay. Canaltay was only able to receive 13 of the 48 votes cast. 26 MPs voted against her appointment while three MPs abstained. Five of the votes were rendered invalid.
Her nomination sparked a new row within the party which has been embroiled in a power struggle ever since the party’s former leader was elected as the new Turkish Cypriot president.
Current deputy parliamentary speaker Zorlu Töre, who himself had expressed a desire to become the new parliament speaker, expressed anger over Canaltay’s nomination and most likely voted against her election.
Pilli says not clear when vaccines from EU will arrive
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ali Pilli on Monday said it was not clear when the vaccines from the EU will be delivered exactly.
Pilli, speaking in parliament, said the north’s vaccination plan was ready and had been shared with the relevant parties.
He also added that the facilities to store the vaccines are almost ready as well.
Pilli also expressed outrage over videos circulating on social media showing people partying on New Year’s Eve. He urged everyone to strictly adhere to social distancing, wear face masks and apply the hygiene rules in place. He added that the police and local administrations will step up their controls.
Responding to several criticisms on the economy, as well as on the difficulties faced by the Turkish Cypriots in Pile (Pyla) village, Pilli underlined his priority was public health.
In a separate statement to Bayrak earlier in the day, Pilli said that samples will be sent to Turkey to see whether or not the new strain of the virus, which is more contagious, has arrived in the north.
The new variant, VOC 202012/01, has been detected in 12 people who had arrived in South Cyprus from the UK and tested positive for coronavirus.
Earlier on Monday, Pilli told Yenidüzen that vaccinations in the north will start on January 15 with vaccines Turkey purchased from China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd. Priority will be given to the elderly living in nursing homes and health care workers.
Meanwhile, in his daily update on the coronavirus pandemic, Pilli said 26 new cases have been identified among which 20 are locally transmitted cases.
Covid measures in north extended, restrictions on crossings remain
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot health authorities on Monday announced they were extending several restrictions for those crossing over to the south for work and study.
Pupils and students living in the north but studying in the south and their parents are subject to quarantine until January 10.
The same applies to people living in the north and working in the south and people living in the south and working in the north.
People working in the UN, EU, British bases, buffer zone and for the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) can enter the north without quarantine provided they submit negative PCR test results not older than 72 hours. The same applies for people residing or working in Pile (Pyla).
People receiving treatment in the south can cross without being subject to quarantine, but they and their escorts must present negative coronavirus PCR tests not older than 72 hours upon their return to the north.
Also, upon their return to the north, they must undergo PCR tests on the seventh and fourteenth days of their entry.
Turkish Cypriots who carry out contactless commercial activity via the Green Line Trade regulation are exempt from mandatory quarantine.
The same exemption is also extended to Turkish Cypriot farmers who need to cross into the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) to carry out their daily farming activities.
The residents of Kato Pyrgos will now bear the brunt of the latest measures.
The committee announced that only ambulances will be allowed to use the Kato Pyrgos (Limnitis)/Yeşilırmak crossing point while everyone else will be subject to quarantine.
The curfew between 10pm and 5am has been lifted but the restriction on gatherings of not more than 10 people in households has been extended to January 10.
Food and beverage businesses such as cafes, restaurants, confectioneries but also betting shops, hairdresser salons, barbershops and beauty parlours, must close by 10 pm while people working in such businesses must take PCR tests every 14 days.
Restaurants may offer take away and delivery services after 10pm.
Taverns, massage parlours, bars, clubs and similar entertainment venues will remain closed until January 10.
The ban on all events such as weddings, cinema, theatre, birthdays, religious services, engagements, exhibitions etc was also extended until January 10.
Only first-degree relatives can attend funerals while sports matches can be held without spectators.
Authorities also urged people in high-risk groups, healthcare workers and police officers whose services are essential, to not participate in collective activities in their social lives and pay maximum attention to observing the personal protection measures.