Ministry of Health announces new decisions for Covid-19

[Soner]

The Ministry of Health announced additional measures in line with the decisions taken by the Contagious Diseases High Committee, which convened under the Contagious Diseases Law.

The written statement made by Health Minister Ali Pilli on behalf of the Ministry of Health is as follows:

“As of 20 October 2020 (including 20 October 2020), those people who want to enter the TRNC from Group B countries and stay in the island for a maximum of 3 days, must submit negative PCR test results at the entrance to the country and they will have to undergo a 2nd PCR test at the entrance to be able to enter the country without staying in quarantine on the condition they stay in a hotel or isolation centre until the 2nd PCR test results are obtained.

However, those who have a reservation at a hotel will be transferred to the hotel with taxis, minibuses, and buses with which the hotel has cooperated until the test results are obtained, and provided the hotel takes full responsibility for this”.

“Those who have no hotel reservation will wait in the central isolation places determined by the Ministry until the PCR test results are available. People with negative results will be exempt from quarantine provided that they only stay in the TRNC for a maximum of 3 days.

As of 20 October 2020 (including 20 October 2020), "random" tests will continue to be performed for people who pass to the Greek Cypriot Administration side in respect of work, education, and for health reasons.

For other reasons, those people who want to pass from the Greek Cypriot Administration side to the TRNC will be able to enter the country providing that they submit their negative PCR test results, which have been done within the last 3 days, at the border gates.

However, those who pass from the Greek Cypriot Administration side to our country (except for those who pass for work, education, and health reasons), and will reside in the TRNC for more than 3 days, will remain in central quarantine for 7 days.

People who enter the TRNC and reside for less than 3 days will be required to complete the commitment form prepared at the border gates. If people who complete the form do not comply with their commitments, criminal action will be initiated against them.

It has been decided that religious prayers and funeral ceremonies will be held after 19th October 2020 within the framework of the pandemic rules.

A decision has been taken that wedding and engagement ceremonies can be held after 19th October 2020 within the framework of the rules to be followed for weddings, which were previously taken by the Committee and published in the Official Gazette dated 28 August 2020, No: 163.

In the event of possible Covid-19 cases in team sports, the rules regarding the measures to be taken have been decided and a detailed notification will be made to the Sports Office Directorate regarding the application.

It has been decided to postpone the opening of cinemas, theatres, fairs, birthday and festival events until 1st November 2020."

[MnM]

What about people from Group B countries wanting to stay for more than 3 days and have their own property? Need to come out Christmas and new-year while i'm off work anyway, but there's personal reasons too.

[Mondo]

So if we get a negative test at the airport in Istanbul we can fly to Ercan-take another test and isolate in our hotel until we get the results.
Does the test meed to be within 72 hours before the flight?
We must leave no later than three days.
Have I got that right?


Have I got that right?

[Soner]

Mondo, yes you have got that right as far as I understand.

MnM, if staying more than 3 days you have to quarantine for 7 days in government allocated place. I had called the TRNC Health Ministry this morning to confirm. The only way you can quarantine at home is if you have someone ill or very elderly to look after, but would need to get permission from the Ministry of Health first.

[MnM]

Much appreciated Soner. I'll do quarantine only as a last resort. Hopefully things may change in the coming months.

[alphamike]

There has been some talk in the local papers about issuing bracelets for home self-isolation, which will be monitored via an app on your phone, but nothing definite as yet. If I can find the article I'll post a link.

[alphamike]

Sorry article has gone. I'd sent the link to a friend, but it's no longer working.

[EnjoyingTheSun]

Re-assuring to know you can't pass it on in 3 days!!

[Soner]

Seems like they need to get the casino's going.

[Soner]

There has been some talk in the local papers about issuing bracelets for home self-isolation, which will be monitored via an app on your phone, but nothing definite as yet. If I can find the article I'll post a link.

Yes, I did not see this but someone mentioned it to me yesterday.

[Mondo]

I can't get my head around why 3 days are OK but if you stay any longer you are obviously a problem.

It couldn't be anything to do with rich Turkish and Israeli gamblers coming for the weekend to play the tables?

Or is that me being cynical?

[Brazen]

I can't get my head around why 3 days are OK but if you stay any longer you are obviously a problem.

It couldn't be anything to do with rich Turkish and Israeli gamblers coming for the weekend to play the tables?

Or is that me being cynical?

You are definitely cynical but almost certainly correct

[forestpixie]

There is another meeting tomorrow!

[EnjoyingTheSun]

It couldn't be anything to do with rich Turkish and Israeli gamblers coming for the weekend to play the tables?

I'm just concerned that I'm going to have to start subsidising their electricity bills again.
On the positive, as the gamblers never leave the hotel/casinos and put a single lire into the local economy at least they will be a little less likely to spread covid.

[MnM]

Sorry article has gone. I'd sent the link to a friend, but it's no longer working.

Perhaps the app developer found a loophole - flight mode!