Coronavirus: north adopts tougher measures

Authorities in the north imposed stricter measures to combat the pandemic, including prohibiting crossings between the two sides of pupils and workers until January 3.

The north also banned arrivals from the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark and South Africa due to the rise in coronavirus cases in these countries and the detection of a mutated coronavirus strain. Exempt are Turkish Cypriots, who will be taken for a 14-day quarantine upon arrival to the north.

As regards crossings, Turkish Cypriot authorities, citing the Christmas holidays in the south, banned pupils going to schools in the government-controlled areas and their family members from crossing between the two sides between December 25 and January 3, both dates included.

Workers too, will not be able to cross between the two sides during the same period. Those who will be working between December 23 and January 3, were asked to obtain a special document.

People living in the north and working in the south were told last week they could cross daily but upon their return to the north, they could not go home but would have to stay in ‘state’-monitored quarantine centres.

People working at the British bases and the buffer zone during the same period, will be given special permits so that they can go to work without having to quarantine.

People entering the north from Pyla and Pergamos during this period will be subject to quarantine. Exceptions will be made only for extraordinary cases.

As of December 23, the use of masks will be mandatory in open and closed spaces, as well as social distancing.

The more stringent measures follow a recent increase in the number of cases in the north recently, including of local ones.

 

 

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.