On 10 March 2020, Health Minister Ali Pilli announced the Northern Cyprus's first case of COVID-19, a 65-year-old tourist from Germany. On 12 March, the country's second case was confirmed, being the spouse of the German tourist who became the first person diagnosed with COVID-19. On 13 March, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus announced that five people have been tested positive for the coronavirus, up from two. On 17 March, the 2020 Northern Cypriot presidential election was delayed for 6 months due to the outbreak. On 24 March, over 840 German national tourists were sent back to Germany after being quarantined for 14 days. On 28 March, the first person died from COVID-19.
April 2020
North Cyprus announced a partial curfew until 10 April. The exception being for use of markets and acquisition of necessities. A full curfew is applied between 9pm and 6am until 10 April. Due to increase of cases, curfew states extended by the end of April. There is a suggestion that "curfew may continue until the end of the summer". 15 villages within the İskele/Karpaz district are under full curfew due to high number of cases. Turkish Cypriot authorities banned movement between districts, meaning no one will be allowed to travel from one district to another. Three students out of 800 who came from UK and were under self isolated quarantine for 14 days, have tested positive. There have been no new reported cases of coronavirus infections for the past ten days and the last COVID-19 death in North Cyprus was on 13 April. Early medical intervention has meant 99 of those who tested positive for coronavirus in the TRNC have made a full recovery. As of 27 April, five people remained in hospital.
May 2020
On 7 May, It was noted that no active cases remained in TRNC. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus may be the first country in the world that does not have any new coronavirus case since 20 April, the country's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. On 11 May, the last coronavirus patient has been discharged from hospital and there are no active cases left.
*19 April info suggested 1 new case giving a total of 109, but subsequent reports suggest an error of 1 case over-reported.
Reaction
On 11 March 2020, Turkish Cypriot Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay said in a tweet that flights from Germany, France and Italy to Northern Cyprus would be suspended until 1 April 2020. All flights around the world to the North Cyprus and as well as Cross points from the southern part To north side of the island is banned. On 12 March 2020, the Turkish republic of northern Cyprus government shut schools and banned mass gatherings as precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, which the World Health Organisation declared a pandemic. All educational activities from nursery to university degree suspended physical systems. Primary and middle schools turned into the digital system and will complete 2019-2020 semester by this way. North Cyprus have more than 20 institutions of higher education. 18 of them are universities and nearly 100,000 international students. All higher education services suspended and turned into the digital system.
