Decisions Taken by the Infectious Diseases Supreme Committee on 12.02.2021 within the scope of the Infectious Diseases Act of 45/2018

Infectious Diseases Supreme Committee convened on 12.02.2021 to evaluate the situation regarding the pandemic. Medical Genetics Specialist Prof. Dr. Nedime Serakıncı, Birdal Cihangir and Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital genetic laboratory manager Eldem Albayrak was also invited to the meeting.

It is predicted that the mutant virus detected in our country, in line with the opinions received and epidemiological situation analysis reports, may peak in March. On the other hand, the daily number of patients is still higher than the number of patients who are discharged, so our health system is increasingly burdened with each passing day. Although the newly opened Emergency Hospital is operating at full capacity, we have difficulties in finding a bed to accommodate our Covid-19 positive patients who need to be monitored in the hospital.

Namely, we have 92 single rooms (60 rooms Emergency Hospital, 21 rooms Outpatient Diagnosis Center, 11 rooms Neurology Service) in which Covid-19 positive patients can be hospitalized. Due to the intense patient seen in the past weeks, 225 patients were followed up by placing two or three people in each room because the conditions were forced in 92 single rooms. As of today, 185 patients are being treated in these centers. Our oxygen plant was also insufficient, and oxygen supplementation had to be made with tubes. The number of intensive care beds, which is 24, serves with a 50% occupancy rate.

One of the most important criteria for the decision to be opened is that the number of positive cases detected daily is less than the number of patients discharged daily.

During this process, the following decisions will be re-evaluated in line with the steady decrease in the number of cases and the decrease in the burden on our health system.

The Decisions Taken are as Follows;

1- It has been decided that under the current conditions, it would be appropriate to extend the lockdown decision taken by our Committee until February 22, 2021 at 05:00. It has been deemed necessary to include the addresses of the residence / duty places of the persons in the permits in order to carry out the inspection more effectively in the permits to be taken to go out.

2- Regulations regarding open sectors to serve in the districts will be as follows;

Open places;

– Markets, pharmacies, pharmaceutical warehouses, medical supplies sellers, mask and disinfectant manufacturers, bakeries, butchers, petrol stations, flour mills, water factories, beverage producers, dairy and milk products processing organizations, bottled gas filling and distribution organizations, private security services , internet service providers, organizations that will provide services that ensure the continuation of import and export (broker-transporters-insurers), suppliers, organizations that carry out agricultural and animal activities, veterinarians, feed sellers, farmers, greenhouses, vegetable wholesalers, livestock farmers, private clinics, private laboratories, private hospitals, private media organizations, printing houses, dormitory services of private universities, organizations providing GSM and communication services and internet service operators, accountants-auditors, citrus cutting and packaging teams.

– However, the bakeries are open to production and sale, and will not produce and sell only on Sundays.

– Professional Fishermen will be able to continue their work.

In line with the recommendations of the Pharmacists Union, the total pharmacies in Nicosia, Girne and Famagusta district centers, where the population is crowded, will be divided into two groups and will work alternately between 08:00 and 15:30. Pharmacies operating in regions other than three district centers will continue their normal activities. In addition, the number of pharmacies on duty in all districts that will serve after 15:30 will be regulated by the Association of Pharmacists. Pharmacy warehouses will be able to serve between 11:00 and 15:00.

– Businesses serving basic needs such as gas stations, greengrocers, butchers / fishermen, markets will be able to stay open between 08:00 and 18:00. Cafes, restaurants and children’s playgrounds will be closed in the markets.

– Food and other business suppliers are deemed appropriate to be open

Distributor of goods, within the hours of 12:00 and 18:00,

Within the working hours of the suppliers who take orders, Shelf sellers will be able to supply by consulting with the businesses when the markets are closed.

– Businesses that provide package and / or online services in all districts will be open between 11:00 and 21:00 only to provide online and / or package services.

– Businesses other than on-duty pharmacies and bakeries will be closed on Sundays.

– It has been deemed appropriate to serve with a minimum number of personnel in the cafeterias of open universities. However, the cafes on university campuses will be closed.

– Companies that will provide cargo services will be able to carry out domestic and international cargo services.

– Security, cleaning and administrative works, which are necessary in private dormitories, will be carried out with the least staff.

Open institutions;

1- Essential departments of the Ministry of Health and health personnel, the Ministry of Finance, the police, fire brigade, municipality, civil defense, district security boards, Customs, Central Prison, BRTK, TAK, TÜK, KIBTEK, Dairy Institution, Universities will work at full capacity.

– Except for the above-mentioned public institutions and organizations, the personnel who are deemed necessary to work in the ministries, departments and institutions affiliated with the ministries will continue their duties as determined by the highest authority.

– In order to ensure that all services are not interrupted in Air and Sea Ports, minimum personnel will be employed.

2- Banks will work with minimum personnel during working hours.

3- Personnel to work in open private sectors will be determined by the employer. The employee lists determined by the employer will be approved by the District Police Boards. Employees are obliged to carry the duty documents approved by the District Police Boards, together with their IDs, that their employer will give them.

4- The permits granted by the District Police Boards as of 8 February 2021 will be valid.

5- The decision to suspend entry and exit between districts will continue for another week. Police officers, health workers, public officials assigned by the obedience officers, yellow press card holders and / or press employees, firefighters and civil aviation services will continue to work between districts. In addition, private sector employees authorized by the District Police Boards will be able to continue their inter-district duties.

6- Persons will meet their essential needs from the businesses closest to their residence. Those who do not comply with this rule will be deemed to have violated the Curfew and will be subject to criminal action.

7- In workplaces that are open for essential needs, it is obligatory to measure fever at the entrances, to comply with the social distance rule, to maintain social distance in square meters to these workplaces, to apply hygiene and disinfection conditions both inside the workplace and at the entrances and exits, and to take and implement these measures. is the employer’s responsibility.

Until February 8-28, 2021, it was deemed appropriate to stop face-to-face education (including private teaching institutions, private lessons and course activities) in public and private schools, all pre-school, primary and secondary education, and to switch to online education. Considering the prevalence of the epidemic in the society and the curfew, it was decided to stop the services of private education centers. However, in the sectors that will remain open, kindergartens may be open on demand so that the services are not interrupted.

9- It has been deemed appropriate that the works and investments (water tunnel, treatment, etc.) of the State Hydraulic Works are continuing without interruption.

10- Patients residing in Northern Cyprus and receiving routine treatment / treatments in Southern Cyprus are deemed appropriate to move to Southern Cyprus without daily quarantine, provided that they receive permission from the Ministry of Health in order to avoid suffering and to complete their treatment. The patient and his attendant (if necessary) who will be transferring for health purposes are required to submit the negative PCR test results made within the last 3 days upon arrival. In addition, patients and companions returning to our country after the treatment should perform PCR tests again on the seventh and fourteenth days of their entry into the country and submit the results to our Ministry.

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

12- It has been deemed appropriate that ambulances pass through the Yeşilırmak Border Gate for health purposes only without quarantine, and other passages are subject to quarantine.

13- The passage of persons residing or working in Pile due to the curfew will be subject to the permission of the county police boards.

14- UN, EU, British Bases Area, Buffer Zone and Peace Force employees will be able to enter without quarantine, provided that they submit negative PCR test results within the last 72 hours.

15- Only TRNC citizens and permanent residents (who have left the TRNC in the last 14 days) in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Denmark and South Africa are permitted to enter the country, provided that they stay in central quarantine for 14 days. Otherwise, those who have visited those countries and are not permanent residents or citizens cannot enter, and other countries’ regulations remain the same.

16- It has been decided that funerals will be held only with the participation of first degree relatives.

17- It has been decided that the passage of people residing in the North and working in Southern Cyprus is subject to quarantine until the next decision. The PCR test result made in the last 7 days will be sought in the transition of these people.

18- It has been decided that the passage of persons residing in the South and working in Northern Cyprus will be subject to quarantine until the next decision.

19- Considering the curfew, it was decided to continue their education online for those residing in the North and studying in Southern Cyprus.

20- It has been deemed appropriate for the people residing in the Declaration to make a daily pass without quarantine in order to carry out their livestock and agriculture activities in the Buffer Zone and the Bases Region.

21- District Police Boards will be authorized to give permission in order to meet and / or eliminate the essential needs that may arise other than the above conditions.

22- PCR tests and Covid-19 vaccination program will continue as determined and announced by the Ministry of Health.

23- Due to the cancellation of the A Level exams, 7th grade students who are not able to continue their education online and who are required to attend the exams to be graduated in Southern Cyprus are not able to transfer to Southern Cyprus daily without quarantine, provided that they go to and from their schools by public transportation. decided. 7th grade students who will transfer for educational purposes will repeat the PCR tests every 7 days. (Students’ parents will not be able to transfer.)