Coronavirus: North brings in strict new measures

Unvaccinated people in the north will not be allowed to enter venues such as bars and restaurants from Monday according to the latest measures against the spread of coronavirus.

The surge in Covid-19 cases in the Turkish Cypriot side in recent weeks has led to the introduction of stricter measures by the north’s committee of experts on communicable diseases.

These include a ban on entry for people who are unvaccinated or have not completed their vaccination regimen in casinos, bars, clubs, indoor fitness areas, stadiums, indoor team sports areas, night clubs, ceremonies, concerts, theatres, and weddings. This also includes indoor areas of restaurants, taverns, patisseries, cafes, coffee shops and cinemas. The measures also stipulate that restaurants, cafes and similar businesses can use only up to one third of their indoor areas.

According to the decisions, from December 6, people who have not had their booster jabs after the required period to get one has passed, will also be considered as unvaccinated.

Home visits have been banned, while not more than 10 family members can gather.

In schools, pupils aged six and over will be required to wear masks. The committee also recommends that pupils between two and six wear masks in the classroom and in indoor areas.

As regards crossings, as per the agreement of the two sides, the ‘level 3’ rules will be applied which means that fully vaccinated people with EMA-approved vaccines, as well as the Sinovac, Sinopharm or Sputnik vaccines, can cross with a seven-day negative rapid antigen test or PCR test, 14 days after their final dose (first dose if Johnson& Johnson).

Unvaccinated people (including unvaccinated workers and people who will cross for health reasons) can cross with a 72-hour negative rapid antigen test or PCR test.

Unvaccinated secondary education students and people residing in Kato Pyrgos, however, will be able to cross with a seven-day negative rapid test or PCR test.

As regards tourist coach tours from the south to the north, unvaccinated tourists from orange or red category countries will be able to cross for the day if they present a negative PCR/antigen test conducted within the last 72 hours.

Last week, the north saw a 39.1 per cent increase in cases compared to the week before. There are now on average 331.41 cases per 100,000 population.