Crisis in north over coronavirus measures

A crisis emerged in the north after the ‘government’s’ disagreement with the decision by the committee of experts on infectious diseases to impose a lockdown as of Sunday midnight until the end of the month.

The committee, which was given in the past the power ‘by law’ to impose measures against the spread of coronavirus, announced late on Saturday evening the north would go into lockdown until the end of the month. Only essential services in the public and private sectors will be allowed to continue operations.

This stirred reactions in the ‘government’ that disagrees with the lockdown citing financial consequences.

In a move that is believed by many as an attempt to bypass the committee, the ‘government’ announced its own measures.

Before the announcement of the new measures by the committee on Saturday, ‘prime minister’ Ersan Saner announced that ‘cabinet’ had decided to impose a curfew between 10 pm and 5 am as of Sunday and up to January 25.

Saner had said that the main goal was to protect public health, but at the same time, keep the economy alive.

Turkish Cypriot media report that the ‘cabinet’ convened on Sunday in the presence of the ‘attorney-general’ and head of the union of ‘municipalities’ to discuss the situation.

‘Deputy prime minister’ and ‘economy and energy minister’ Erhan Arikli questioned the committee’s decision asking for clarifications as to the criteria that led to the decision for a lockdown.

The committee’s message to the poor, Arikli said, was “don’t die from corona(virus), die of starvation at home.”