KTTB: Sharp rise in coronavirus cases in South worrying
THE recent sharp rise in Covid-19 cases in South Cyprus is “worrying”, the head of the Cyprus Turkish Doctors’ Union (KTTB) said on Wednesday.
Greek Cypriot health authorities announced 83 new cases on Tuesday, their highest daily figure since the start of the pandemic.
In contrast there was just one new case recorded in North Cyprus on the same day, a person who had arrived from abroad.
KTTB chair Dr Özlem Gürkut, issuing a written statement on behalf of the organisation, said that she expected the number of Covid-19 cases to rise in the winter.
“Following the reopening [of the TRNC] on July 1, both local and non-local cases increased,” she said.
“However, the situation has been brought under control after the introduction of quarantine and additional measures.
“There is a consensus that it is not sustainable to keep the country closed against the pandemic, which is expected to continue for a long time.
“However, we also know that it may be necessary to increase measures from time to time in order not to lose control of social contagion.
“The increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in South Cyprus in recent days is worrying. It is known that hundreds of Turkish Cypriots travel to South Cyprus through the checkpoints for education, work, treatment and social reasons. Of course, the South
[Cyprus] administration will take additional measures against the increasing cases.”
Referring to the decrease in Covid-19 cases in the last two weeks in North Cyprus, Dr Gürkut said: “We should also take additional measures at the crossing gates. It is necessary to increase the frequency of PCR tests to people who cross South every day. Additional measures should be taken to reduce crossings to the South except for mandatory reasons such as education, work, etc, for four weeks.
“We would like to remind our people not to cross South unless absolutely necessary, as the next 14 to 21 days are critical.”
Dr Gürkut also called for a “reliable flow of information” between the two sides regarding the latest coronavirus situation, “especially through the Bicommunal Health Technical Committee”.