Government decision on partial cufew stands, Supreme Committee revised its decision

Following clashes in contradicting measures announced by the government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Supreme Committee on Infectious diseases on Saturday to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country, Prime Minister Ersan Saner on Sunday announced that "the government's decisions stands while the Committee decisions will be revised again".

Saner announced the new decision on Sunday evening after a near 5-hour meeting by the Council of Ministers to evaluate the "crisis" that emerged after the decisions taken by the Council of Ministers were in conflict with the decisions of the Committee on Infectious diseases.

Making a statement after the meeting of the Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister said that the decisions of the Council of Ministers taken on Saturday are valid, and stated that the decisions of the Supreme Committee on Infectious diseases, which include "total closure", will be revised by the Minister of Health and published again.

Saner said, "When thinking about health, we need to think about the economy and the wheels of the economy". 

He said the Supreme Committee on Infectious diseases decision on ban can only be taken by the government. "The Supreme Council cannot make decision on curfew, the Council of Ministers can make this decision," he said.

Stating that "The Supreme Committee on Infectious diseases will make new decisions, which will be published in the Official Gazette", Saner said, "The issue will be discussed again in 2 days in order not to damage the economy." 

He said the Minister of Health will meet again with the committee in this regard. 

According to the announcement, the Prime Minister said; 

-The "partial curfew from 10:00pm at night to 5:00am in the morning" is valid and will be in effect until January 25.

-According to Saner, schools (primary and secondary) will remain closed for another week, and the decision to reopen the schools will be discussed on January 22.

- The decision of the Supreme Committee on Infectious diseases to close all public and private workplaces until January 31 will be revised again.

Meanwhile, Supreme Committee later revised the decisions taken on Saturday night. The committee stated that the decision to lockdown was under the authority of the Council of Ministers. 

It will be decided to follow the process for another week, taking into account the opinions of the Ministries on Economy, and to take into account the pandemic in the country, and to bring the decisions taken on January 16, 2021 to the agenda, if needed, the committee said in a statement.

The committee explained the decisions taken on January 11, 2021 and entered into force after being published in the official gazette will remain in effect.