Front Page Headlines
We start by maintaining our ‘distance’
The partial curfew which was declared on March 31 within the framework of measures against the pandemic was lifted yesterday (Monday). Businesses which remained shut for a long time opened their doors to customers with great excitement along with a series of ‘measures’. Health was on the agenda of the sectors but an atmosphere of pessimism for the economy was more prevailing as the value Turkish Lira continues to erode.
- A prematurely born baby during the corona outbreak was reunited with his mother at the Metehan (Agios Dhometios) crossing point through the United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNIFYCP).
- Covid-19: North: 1419 tests, no new cases/South: 1490 tests, two cases.
Ceased Print/Online only
Streets liven up, retailers waiting
The restrictions in the north were partially lifted and life returned to normal, at least to a certain degree. The shopkeepers reopened their businesses after fulfilling all health requirements. However, the retailers are pessimistic about sales not only because there are no tourists or students left in the north but also because people have no money to spend. The retailers are hopeful for the upcoming Mother’s Day and the ‘Bayram’ (Eid al-Fitr) sales.
- No one adhered to the social distancing rule – The people who went to the Social Security Department on Monday had to wait outside but without following the social distancing rule.
- The businesses will be in severe difficulty – The businesses that reopened are now faced with the reality of the weakening Turkish Lira against foreign currencies.
- Education Minister: “We are not in a rush to open the schools.”
- “Find solutions for us urgently” – Turkish Cypriots employed in the south demand solutions from the authorities.
Frightening crowds
60 sectors resumed their activities as of Monday morning in line with the cabinet’s decision. Hundreds of shops were reopened following a long break but while the shopkeepers were waiting for the customers, the people were out and about. Both the pedestrian and the vehicle traffic on the roads were at frightening levels.
- Press tested for Covid-19 – Members of the media, who are among the high-risk groups, were tested for Covid-19 on Monday.
- Atmosphere gloomy at Nicosia old town’s Arasta (Market) – Shopkeepers in the historical Arasta shopping area in the Nicosia’a old town opened their businesses after a 47-day lockdown but the mood was gloomy due to the silence.
- The latest situation: North 108 cases, four deaths; South 874 cases, 15 deaths; Turkey 127,659 cases, 3,461 deaths.
The danger is not over
As businesses reopened after 50 days, experts warned about the importance of adhering to measures. Shopkeepers and factory owners focused on cleaning up on the first day of the reopening. Businesses resumed operations after everywhere was cleaned with hygiene products. Experts speaking to Diyalog warned that the danger was far from over. It was observed that most businesses and establishments adhered to the rule on wearing masks and gloves. However, the fact that some acted as if everything was back to normal drew reactions. Experts say that people must wear masks when going to work and that it was essential to follow the rules for a little longer.
- Strict controls being carried out in the South – The majority of businesses opened up in the south of the island.
It will become clearer in 14 days
Following the lifting of the restrictions, people poured onto the streets. There were even traffic jams. We returned to back to our normal lives but doctors warn against complacency. Dr Özlem Gürkut, head of Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association said the best evaluation or assessment will be made 14 days from now. She added the Doctors’ Association’s Scientific Board will evaluate the situation then and will present the authorities with its recommendations.
- 1419 tests, no positive cases – There is only one person left undergoing treatment for coronavirus in the north. The number of cases in the south is also decreasing. Only two cases identified in the south on Monday.
- “We are not tourists” – The Turkish Cypriots employed in the south are rebelling. They are waiting for solutions from the authorities to be able to return to their work in the south.
Main News
The north tentatively opens for business
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, Economy
OVERVIEW
No new coronavirus cases were reported in the North on Monday, the first-day lockdown measures were relaxed.
After a month-and-a-half, hundreds of businesses and retail outlets reopened for business, with hundreds if not thousands going back to work.
Strict hygiene and health measures were adopted by businesses which opened their doors to customers.
There was concern expressed by many that the measures had been relaxed too soon as the major cities witnessed traffic and scenes of crowded streets with people either out to do shopping or rushing to work.
The general mood, however, was gloomy due to the state of the economy.
With the crossing points closed, no tourists and university students, most businesses complained that sales were low or close to none.
While it was observed that the public, in general, complied with the measures, the fact that some were flouting measures as if the danger was completely over raised concerns within the Turkish Cypriot community.
Health Minister Ali Pilli on Monday night told Bayrak that no cases had been detected in the bulk of 1419 tests carried out on Monday.
He said that all three individuals who had undergone PCR tests a day earlier after their rapid tests were positive, tested negative for Covid-19.
Pilli added that extensive PCR testing had been carried out on six more individuals on Monday.
He also reminded that the danger was not over and the people should continue to adhere to the measures.
The General Secretary of the Peoples’ Party (HP) Jale Refik Rogers warned the public on Monday against any complacency.
She said it was not possible to declare victory against the virus until a vaccine was discovered.
Rogers, who is a molecular genetics expert by profession, said that it was possible there could be asymptomatic cases amongst the public.
“We have been in lockdown and curfew for the past 50 days which is why we aren’t expecting the number of such cases to be very high. However, there is still a risk of the virus spreading which is why we should be taking measures as if there are people around us who are Covid-19 positive,” she said.
Rogers also underlined the importance of adhering to hygiene measures, washing hands frequently, wearing masks and maintain social distancing.
“Otherwise a spike in cases could force us into a new lockdown. It is important that we act with this knowledge and responsibility,” she said.
The Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association on Monday said that it would be clear whether it would be safe to open schools two weeks from now.
Head of the association Dr Özlem Gürkut met with Turkish Cypriot Education Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu to discuss how to proceed with the remainder of the school year.
She said that the measures taken to date had prevented the virus from spreading, containing the number of cases to a controllable level.
Dr Gürkut also said that the situation as to whether or not the danger has truly subsided will become clearer 14 days from now.
She added the Doctors’ Association’s Scientific Board will evaluate the situation then and will present the authorities with its recommendations.
In a separate development on Monday, Güven Bengihan, head of the KTAMS (Turkish Cypriot Public Servant’s Union) argued that the government should pay back all the cuts it made from public servants’ and pensioners’ salaries without further delay.
Speaking to Yenidüzen, Bengihan argued the statutory decrees (KHK) adopted by the cabinet were unlawful and unconstitutional and the KTAMS was determined to take legal action.
Speaking on the reopening process, Bengihan said the cabinet had kept the trade unions in the dark regarding its plans.
“The cabinet remains callous to alternative opinions in areas like health, economy and protecting the rights of the workers,” Bengihan said.
He added the financial burden of the coronavirus crisis has been placed on the shoulders of the pensioners and the public servants.
Accusing the cabinet of being “opportunists” during the pandemic crisis, Bengihan claimed the cabinet will continue to prune the rights of the civil servants while not touching the wealthy and higher-income groups.
Asked to evaluate the overall economic measures, Bengihan said the measures are not fair at all.
“The cabinet has left the workers to the mercy of the employers. The cabinet could not stop the employers from laying off their workers and on top of that lowered the unemployment benefit from ₺2674 (€349) to ₺1500 (€200). This is nothing but subjecting the workers to starvation,” Bengihan stressed.
TCs working in the south continue to seek a way to cross
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Internal Security, Economy
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriots working in the south continue to seek a solution to their plea to return to their jobs, the dailies reported on Monday.
A smaller group of 1,525 Turkish Cypriots who are employed in the south, met separately on Monday with President Mustafa Akıncı and with Suat Yeldener, Undersecretary to Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar.
“We are not tourists. On the contrary, our situation is dire and requires urgent attention,” the workers said in a statement issued on Monday.
The group said that those wishing to return to work in the south were not only construction workers but people from different professions.
“We shouldn’t be confused with those who receive pensions from the south. There are 1,525 of us, all who are insured in the south,” the group said.
A request made by the workers to be granted special permission to cross to the south was turned down earlier by the Turkish Cypriot authorities citing the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, the statement read and added
The workers say that Tatar’s office had told them that it was ready to assist them should they wish to cross to the south and settle there until the crossings are opened on the condition that the workers negotiated passage to the south with Greek Cypriot authorities.
The statement noted Akıncı has promised the workers during their meeting to communicate the workers’ request with his Greek Cypriot counterparts.
Meanwhile, former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Tatar criticized the government’s decision to reopen various sectors on Monday
“The cabinet has decided to open the private sector to save itself from the additional subsidies and support it gives to the workers,” Talat claimed during a programme on Kıbrıs Postası web TV.
He argued that the cabinet discriminated between the public sector and the private sector.
“In the past, the public sector was more attractive because if offered job-security and guarantee employment but now it will become even more popular with the cabinet’s doing. More people will push to get hired into the public sector,” Talat said.
He also drew attention to the conflicting statements between the cabinet and other doctors’ organizations and said he does not know who to believe anymore.
Stelios Foundation donates £50,000 to the north
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
CBMs, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation has decided to donate £50,000 to the Turkish Cypriot community, Yenidüzen reported on Monday.
The Foundation will be donating £20,000 to the Nicosia Turkish Municipality; £15,000 to the Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu Development Association; £10,000 to the Turkish Cypriot Association of Municipalities and finally £5,000 to the Turkish Cypriot Doctors’ Association.
The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, which was established by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, handed out €3,7m in the last 11 years as part of the “Bicommunal Awards” scheme, which aims at fostering cooperation and collaboration between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities.
In another development, the Turkish Cypriot members of the bicommunal technical committee on health on Monday inspected medical supplies donated by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
The co-chair of the committee Dr Cenk Soydan, and members Dr Bülent Dizdarlı, Dr Jale Refik Rogers, Dr Emete İmge, Dr Ayşe Sözüöz and Dr Yeşim Gümüşdağ visited the health ministry warehouses on Monday.
During the visit, Dr Soydan said 25 boxes of isolation kits, 20 monitors and 20 ventilators were expected to be delivered this week.