Front Page Headlines
Protect yourselves
The government’s unplanned and short-sighted decision to introduce a valid PCR test condition for workers travelling between districts turned into chaos, creating an environment for the further spread of the virus. The Health Ministry halted testing and called on everyone to protect themselves. Later it announced that the valid PCR test condition had been postponed.
- Full lockdown for ten days – All businesses and services, except for pharmacies, supermarkets, bakeries, and petrol stations will be closed from 8pm on February 5 to 5am on February 15. Only pharmacies will remain open on Sundays, February 7 and 14. Supermarkets will remain open between 8am and 5pm and suppliers will only be able to unload supplies from 5pm to 8pm. All travel permits have been cancelled and travel between districts banned. Restaurants’ delivery services will also stop. There will be no exercising outside or sporting activities. Education is to continue online until February 17.
Full lockdown for ten days
The number of positive coronavirus cases renewed its record yesterday, reaching 80. When the measures adopted to prevent local transmission failed, the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases and the Council of Ministers announced stricter measures. The decisions will enter into force as of 8pm today.
- 69 locally transmitted, 80 new cases in the TRNC.
- No one satisfied with the economic measures package – Economic organisations were not satisfied with the economic measures package announced by the Council of Ministers. The organisations found the measures “confusing, tragicomic, manipulative, and empty.”
The system has collapsed
The government’s decision to amend and change the recommendations of the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases brought with it the downfall of the fight against Covid-19. The number of cases has exceeded the health system’s capability to deal with patients. Doctors’ Association: as a result of partial or delayed implementation of the measures adopted by the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases, the pandemic has now spread swiftly within the community. The necessary provisions were not implemented, the decisions were not executed properly nor were control mechanisms put in place. Health Minister Ali Pilli: We are not able to control the infections. We could lose control of the situation at any minute due to the irresponsible actions of some people. We have reached 70-80 cases daily and if we cannot stop the infection, it will become worse.
- Our goal is the right vaccine – Cafer Gürcafer, head of the Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors Association (KTIMB), who is also the spokesperson for the Economic Organisations’ Platform, evaluated the economic package and made striking statements on vaccinations. He said money is not a problem for acquiring vaccines. We as the association are ready to give $2.5m. What is important is to find the right vaccine. If the vaccines are going to be delivered to the country, they will first go to Turkey, checked and then sent to us.
- “Come to the negotiations ready for reconciliation” – British Foreign Secretary (Dominic) Raab, who met with the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders about the five-party conference, gave a clear message.
All permits cancelled
The government finally paid heed to warnings and decided on a full lockdown starting as of this evening until February 15. The government announced that it was tightening measures following the alarming rise in case numbers. According to the new decisions, all movement between districts is banned and previous permits have all been cancelled. While supermarket operating hours have been limited, all businesses except for pharmacies will be closed on February 7 and 15. Banks will remain closed between February 8-15 and no cheques will be processed during this period.
- This is not how it should have been done – New arrangements are being made following the chaotic scenes that took place at the three PCR test centres following a rise in case numbers.
- Sincere meeting at the palace garden – British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab met separately with both leaders yesterday.
- Numbers almost equal – 80 new Covid-19 cases in the north, 116 in the south.
Full lockdown until February 15
All the permits given by the district security boards have been revoked. Travel between the districts has been banned. No businesses except for pharmacies will be open on the Sunday of February 7 and 14. Banks will be shut from February 8 to 12. It has also been announced that cheques will not be processed. All businesses other than essential service providers such as pharmacies on duty, petrol stations, supermarkets, will be shut from February 5 to 15. 150,000 PCR test kits and three testing equipment will be purchased to increase the number of tests.
- Expo site turned into a PCR fair.
- 69 locally transmitted cases, 80 cases – The north is catching up with the south in the number of positive cases. One identified case came by air travel, ten cases were individuals who were being monitored in quarantine facilities as contacts of previously identified positive cases; 21 cases were identified in Nicosia, 49 in Kyrenia, five in Famagusta, and four in Güzelyurt (Morphou) out of 6,937 tests carried out in the last 24 hours.
Main News
North prepares to enter full lockdown
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
A full lockdown will be implemented in the north starting from 8pm on Friday, February 5, to 5am on February 15, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersan Saner announced in a press conference on Thursday night.
All permits have been cancelled and movement between districts has been cancelled. Banks, public offices and sectors except for essential services will also remain closed until February 15. Apart from supermarkets, petrol stations and pharmacies all businesses, including restaurants providing delivery services will close down. Supermarkets will be open between 8am and 5pm and suppliers for open sectors will be allowed to carry out their deliveries between 5pm and 8pm. Only pharmacies will remain open on the following Sundays, February 7 and February 14.
The lockdown decision came after daily Covid-19 cases in the north hit a new record high on Thursday with 80 new cases reported. 69 of the cases were locally transmitted while one arrived via air. 45 cases were reported in the Kyrenia District where up to half the daily cases are reported.
6,937 PCR tests were carried out on Thursday, the highest number conducted in a single day since the outbreak in March last year.
Chaos and panic grips north as health authorities overwhelmed
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
There was absolute chaos at PCR testing centres in Nicosia and Famagusta on Thursday morning following a late announcement made on Wednesday that all employees of sectors exempt from the lockdown restrictions needed a valid PCR test to either travel between districts for work purposes or to carry on operating.
Turkish Cypriot health authorities were forced to interrupt Covid screenings after they were overwhelmed by the large number of people who queued up at the centres early in the morning to get their tests done on time.
The health ministry announced just before noon that testing was halted after capabilities had been surpassed. A statement late on Thursday announced that testing would resume on Friday with new centres added to the list.
In the meantime, people were outraged at the authorities after pictures of long queues of people disregarding social distancing rules at testing centres popped up on social media. At some stage, it was reported that arguments broke out between those waiting in line and those trying to cut through.
The public and the opposition bombarded the health ministry over introducing new measures without planning. The authorities in a short-sighted move failed to predict the pile-ups that would result after giving businesses only until Friday to have their employees tested for Covid-19.
People from İskele (Trikomo) district were forced to drive to Famagusta to get tested despite the ban on movement between districts adding further to the chaos.
In a statement on Thursday, Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ali Pilli warned that case numbers had reached alarming levels and that they were no longer able to control the spread of the virus. He pleaded with the public to strictly adhere to rules in place to contain the pandemic.
There were reports of police patrolling the streets of Kyrenia and announcing through speakers for people to stay at home.
Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar also issued a statement on Thursday, stating that the high number of cases was due to a rise in test numbers. He said the increase in testing would allow them to obtain a more accurate picture of the spread of the virus.
Tatar also predicted that case numbers will peak on February 7 before entering a downward trend and urged people to stay home as well as to adhere to the rules.
Also, on Thursday, the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Doctors warned that the medical services were on the brink of collapse due to delayed decisions by the authorities. In a written statement, the chamber urged the authorities to implement a full lockdown without further delay and launch a widespread screening with PCR tests in parallel with the vaccination campaign.
Dr Derlen Özgeç Ruso, who is a pulmonologist at the General Hospital in Nicosia warned that the new mutated variant of the Covid-19 might have arrived in the north. She warned that the situation was far more serious than it seemed, pointing out that the virus was spreading and progressing faster than before. Ruso also pleaded with those who might have come into contact with positive cases not to hide and to seek medical treatment immediately.
Tatar informs Raab of his two-state state of mind
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Thursday conveyed to the British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab that his side will be going to the informal 5+1 summit with a two-state mindset, an arrangement he called “realistic” and “fair.”
Tatar met with Raab who crossed over to the north after an earlier meeting with the Greek Cypriot leadership on his first official visit to the island as foreign secretary, ahead of the informal summit in early March.
In a statement via the British High Commission, Raab said that the UK will continue to play a supporting role in helping resolve the Cyprus Problem. Failure to reach a settlement will benefit no one, he added.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Tatar said he explained to the British foreign secretary that at the March conference he will present his vision for “a fair, realistic and viable solution” attained through a two-state partnership where the entities are equally sovereign and enjoy equal international status.
The Turkish Cypriot leader said he looked forward to a “win-win” deal contributing to regional stability. He also said he had informed Raab that sovereign equality was a sine qua non for Turkish Cypriots in any settlement to be reached.
He added that the Turkish Cypriot side will be attending the meeting with a constructive attitude. “We shall see what the British government and diplomats will be tabling at the conference. Britain as a guarantor power also has responsibilities and is currently exploring these matters,” he said in response to a question.
Giving an account of the missed opportunities and the injustices perpetrated against Turkish Cypriots, Tatar said he told the British Foreign Secretary that insisting on a failed method of talks, that is, a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF), would only serve to perpetuate the status quo on the island. He added that Ankara was in full harmony with him on this issue.
Tatar pointed out that he also raised the prospects of strengthening bilateral relations and commercial ties with the UK now that it had left the EU.
He also said he found the opportunity to raise the Turkish Cypriot side’s concerns regarding the opening of certain parts of the British Bases for non-military development. The Turkish Cypriot leader said that there were numerous Turkish Cypriot properties, including those belonging to the Evkaf administration, located within the area of the sovereign bases.
Among other things, Tatar said he pointed out to Raab that the north expects a share of the AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine anticipated to arrive in the south later this month.
He pointed out that around 10,000 British nationals were living in the north.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Two-state model only realistic & fair arrangement for the solution of Cyprob.
>> Sovereign equality & equal international status sine qua non for TCs.
>> TC side to attend 5+1 with constructive attitude to achieve a win-win deal that will benefit regional stability.
>> UK as a guarantor power also has responsibilities.
>> Insisting on a BBF will only serve the continuation of status quo.
Raab (UK)
>> UK will continue to play a supporting role in helping resolve the Cyprob.
>> Failure to reach a settlement will benefit no one, he added.
Conservation works at Afendirga (Aphendrika) site concluded
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot co-chair of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage Ali Tuncay on Thursday announced that conservation works at the Afendirga (Aphendrika) archaeological site in Karpaz (Karpas) have been concluded.
In a social media post, Tuncay thanked everyone who took part in the project.
The technical committee carried out the conversation works at the Panagia Aphendrika Basilica (Chrysiotissa Basilica), Asomatos Basilica and Agios Georgios Church with technical support from the UNDP and funding from the EU.
As part of the conservation works, the technical committee team cleared the site of shrubbery, strengthened the structures and opened water drainage pipes.