The following revised decisions have been adopted by the Council of Ministers in line with recommendations of the Higher Committee for Infectious Diseases.

The following additional decisions will be implemented between 22.03.2021 to 29.03.2021

A night-time curfew between 9 pm and 5 am will be in place from Monday to Saturday. A full-day curfew (except to meet essential needs) will be in place from Saturday 9 pm to Monday 5 am.

All businesses and activities, except for pharmacies, petrol stations, bakeries (production only), livestock and related enterprises will be closed on Sunday 28.03.2021.

From Monday – Saturday:

• Markets will be open between 8 am and 8 pm. (Including Saturdays)

• Retail and merchandising services (except supermarkets and workplaces supplying all sectors) will be open between 10 am and 8 pm.

Establishments that will remain closed:

– Theatres and cinemas, performance centres, concert halls, engagement-wedding halls, casinos, bars, tavernas, shisha cafes, internet cafes, all kinds of game halls, indoor children’s playgrounds, massage parlours, spas, open buffet restaurants, night clubs, clubs, Turkish baths and saunas.

Establishments that will be open

All businesses and activities that are not stated implicitly may be open under the conditions stated below.

There will be no trying on of clothing at stores.

Businesses will be allowed to take orders, conduct sales and distribute between 8 am and 8 pm. Restocking or rearranging shelves or store windows will be carried out after 8 pm.

Open businesses will make arrangements that will limit the total number of customers and employees. The arrangement must be made so that the total number of customers and employees will be one person per 5 m2.

To maintain social distancing, these enterprises will be required to put up informative signs at entrances regarding the total number of customers and employees which can be allowed at any given time. Also, businesses that provide services will work on a rotational basis or with reduced personnel. Personnel in open sectors will repeat PCR tests every fifteen days. Open sectors will be inspected by District Police Boards. Sectors or businesses which flout rules will be shut down.

Businesses will have to sign consent forms and will be subject to legal prosecution if they fail to comply with the guidelines set.

Decisions adopted;

Since the prevalence of infection is less in Lefke-Güzelyurt-İskele-Gazimağusa districts and to prevent the spread of infection to these districts, it has been deemed appropriate that the passage from Lefkoşa and Girne districts to the above-mentioned districts are controlled by the District Police Boards. There is no ban on travel between Lefkoşa and Girne Districts.

Regarding public transport;

Bus services within Lefke and Güzelyurt districts and between the two districts will be allowed to operate.

Bus services within İskele and Gazimağusa and between the two districts will be allowed to operate.

Bus services between Lefkoşa and Girne will not be allowed. Bus services will only be allowed to operate within each district.

Transporting passengers via taxi to other districts (Lefke, Güzelyurt, İskele, Gazimağusa) from Girne or Lefkoşa will be subject to permission. No bus, minibus or shuttle services will be allowed from Girne or Lefkoşa to any of the other districts. No passengers may be seated next to bus drivers. The seat behind the bus driver must be left empty. Buses will only be allowed to operate at 50% capacity. Windows must remain open, and all passengers are required to wear masks during transit. All buses will be disinfected after every tour. All public transport and taxi drivers will be required to sign consent forms. Failure to comply with the rules stated will result in legal prosecution.

Implementing social distancing rules, providing signs and markings to ensure social distancing as well as applying hygiene and disinfection conditions both inside the workplace and at entrances and exits falls under the responsibility of the employer or business owner.

There will be no face-to-face or in-class education (except for Grade 12 students) at public or private pre-school, primary and secondary education until April 2, 2021. Schools will continue with online or remote education. Also, Grade 12 students and teachers as well as school staff will be required to undergo rapid tests on March 26, 2021. Grade 12 students will also undergo PCR testing on March 29, 2021.

It has been deemed appropriate for people residing in the TRNC but receiving medical treatment in South Cyprus, to cross for daily visits without quarantine as long as they document their appointments at the crossing points. The patient and their attendant (if necessary) will be required to submit a negative PCR test result carried out within the last 72 hours. Also, patients and companions returning to the TRNC following treatment should repeat their PCR tests on the seventh and fourteenth days of their return and submit the results to the Health Ministry.

It has been deemed appropriate for people residing in South Cyprus but receiving treatment in the TRNC, to cross for daily visits without quarantine as long as they present proof of their appointments and a valid PCR test carried out within the last 72 hours.

Within the scope of the Green Line Regulation, it has been deemed appropriate for people who do contactless trade to carry out their transactions without quarantine, provided that they obtain permission from the district security boards.

It has been deemed appropriate to allow fishermen selling their catch to South Cyprus to cross over for hourly visits to make deliveries. Individuals carrying out sales will be required to present a negative PCR test carried out in the last seven days.

It has been deemed appropriate for ambulances to pass through the Yeşilırmak crossing point without the need for quarantine. All other individuals are subject to quarantine.

People residing and working in Pile will be exempt from quarantine or will be allowed to cross daily provided that they submit their negative PCR test results carried out in the last seven days. Employees of sectors that supply basic commodities and services to businesses in Pile will be allowed to cross for daily visits provided they present a valid PCR test carried out in the last 24 hours.

Individuals working for the UN, EU, the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) or UN peacekeepers are exempt from quarantine provided that they submit a negative PCR test result carried out within the last seven days.

Drivers of diplomatic missions (diplomats excluded) will be required to present a valid PCR test carried out in the last seven days. These individuals will be exempt from quarantine but will only be allowed to cross over for two hours.

Funerals will be held with the participation of first-degree relatives only.

Persons residing in the TRNC and working in South Cyprus or vice versa will be able to cross daily without quarantine, provided that they submit a valid PCR test carried out within the last 7 days.

Barbershops, hairdressers, beauty salons and tattoo studios will continue to operate between 8 am and 7 pm. Employees in these sectors will be required to repeat PCR tests every seven days and will sign consent forms. Businesses that breach health protocols will be shut down.

In light of the country’s quarantine capacity, daily flights to the TRNC have been limited to three per day. Each flight cannot exceed 200 passengers. Ferry services to the TRNC have been limited to two per day with a maximum number of 75 passengers each.

It has been deemed appropriate for people residing in Beyarmudu to cross daily without quarantine to carry out livestock and agricultural activities in the UN buffer zone and base area.

Restaurants, patisseries, cafes, eateries and tavernas, in addition to takeaway and delivery services, will be allowed to continue serving sit-in customers in outdoor seating areas. These establishments will sign consent forms and all venues which break health protocols will be shut. Establishments may be allowed to serve sit-in customers indoors at 1/3 capacity as of 24.03.2021, depending on case numbers.

Coffeeshops, cafeterias and clubhouses will be allowed to continue operating on the condition they comply with social distancing rules. However, playing table games (cards, backgammon etc) or serving shisha will not be permitted. These establishments will also be allowed to operate indoors as of 24.03.2021 at 1/3 capacity, depending on case numbers.

Bet offices will be allowed to operate as of 24.03.2021 on the condition that their employees undergo PCR testing before that date. These establishments will only allow customers indoors at 1/3 capacity. Eating and drinking at bet offices is forbidden.

Special needs education centres will continue to operate. Staff and employees at these education centres will be required to repeat PCR tests every seven days.

Licensed and professional athletes can carry out non-contact and individual training outdoors.

Non-contact, individual sporting activities are permitted outdoors.

Professional and licensed swimmers are permitted to train. However, pools remain closed for classes.

Individuals with permanent or temporary residency permits who travelled from the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Brazil, Denmark and South Africa in the last 14 days are allowed entry into the country, provided that they remain in state-monitored quarantine for 14 days.

Individuals residing in the TRNC but who wish to travel abroad via Larnaca Airport in South Cyprus or those wishing to come to the TRNC via Larnaca Airport will be able to do so via T-permit taxis or touristic minibuses. Drivers operating such services are required to present a valid PCR test carried out in the last 72 hours. These vehicles are required to cross back to the TRNC within three hours of their departure through the same crossing point. T-permit taxis may only transport two passengers at a time while touristic shuttle services may transport a maximum of four passengers at a time.

Passengers arriving from the south are required to present a valid PCR test carried out in the last 72 hours of their arrival. These passengers will be transported to the quarantine hotel they will be staying in. Drivers will be required to sign consent forms. Drivers flouting the rules will not be allowed to cross again.

27.International exams will be carried out under the conditions stated below.

-Individuals sitting exams will be required to present a negative PCR test carried out in the last 24 hours.

– Windows and doors at exam centres will remain open at all times.

– All individuals in the exam room will be required to wear protective gear (visors or face masks).

– Sitting arrangements will be done according to social distancing rules.

– Exam rooms will be disinfected before the exam.

Individuals arriving in the TRNC for IVF treatment will be accommodated at quarantine centres between 10-14 days. Individuals will be transported from quarantine hotels to IVF centres for 3-4 hours. These individuals will be required to carry out PCR tests 24 hours before their appointment. IVF centres will be entirely responsible for individuals transported from their quarantine hotel to the facilities and back. IVF centre directors will sign consent forms which will be subject to approval by the Health Ministry Coordination Council.

Gyms will be allowed to resume operation as of 24.03.2021, on the condition that employees and trainers at gyms carry out PCR tests until that date and case numbers remain the same. Gym owners will be required to sign consent forms and any establishments which breach health protocols will be shut down.

Mass rallies, meetings or ceremonies cannot be carried out indoors. All rallies, meetings or gatherings to be carried out outdoors must be carried out under social distancing rules. All demonstrators or participants are required to wear face masks.

For home isolation (quarantine) to begin;

-The health ministry will determine the necessary criteria, will establish an electronic bracelet/monitoring system, will step up controls, will establish a monitoring team, will implement fines or penalties in line with the Law on Infectious Diseases and will move all individuals violating home isolation rules to quarantine centres. These individuals will be forced to pay for their own accommodation.

32. The electronic bracelet/monitoring system will need to be implemented to allow three-day closed-circuit hotel tourism. Work has also been launched to prepare a calendar for other tourism sectors.

33. Professional actors or stage performers/artists/musicians are allowed to rehearse individually. Plays/concerts will be allowed to perform online but all performers or actors on stage will be required to provide a negative PCR test in the last 24 hours.