Corona Virus scare in North Cyprus as 74-year-old Turkish Cypriot woman quarantined

There was an alarm in Lefkosa, North Cyprus on Saturday when a patient undergoing treatment at the Famagusta State Hospital for suspected coronavirus was transferred to the Lefkosa State Hospital.

The patient, a 74-year-old Turkish Cypriot woman was taken to the Lefkosa State Hospital by a special team.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, the TRNC Minister of Health Ali Pilli confirmed the information.

The patient had just returned from Dubai a week ago and was diagnosed with pneumonia. 

The patient was quarantined. We have to take this precautionary measure, said the minister.

It is probably necessary. We only take this measure on a suspicion. It is too early to say anything yet. The patient applied to the hospital today, he said. 

The patient had applied to Famagusta State Hospital with a high fever complaint and diagnosed pneumonia by doctors.

For the purpose of precaution due to the fact that she just returned from a Dubai tour one week ago, she was transferred to the quarantine department of Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital in Lefkosa.

The patient may have been in the same environment as Chinese tourists and may be at risk of contacting the deadly coronavirus while in Dubai.

Other passengers on board the same flight as the patient were quarantined in Istanbul.