The government of the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC) has confirmed the coronavirus risk category for all countries ahead of re-opening its borders to the world next week.
All visitors have the right to enter North Cyprus from 1 July onwards, according to a Council of Ministers decree at the end of May. There are, however, conditions of entry, which vary according to the risk category the country they are travelling from is in.
There are three coronavirus risk categories: A is low risk, B is medium risk, and C is high risk. The TRNC Health Ministry has been responsible for determining which risk category each country is in. The three lists are loosely based on guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation.
The lists issued by the TRNC Health Ministry show Italy twice: once in Category B, and again in Category C. Bizarrely, there is no listing for South Cyprus although Greece is listed.
Category A entry conditions and countries
Anyone travelling from country listed in Category A must show a negative PCR test no more than 72 hours before entering North Cyprus.
Category C countries are deemed the highest risk due to their current rates of infection. There is a mandatory 14-day quarantine for anyone entering the TRNC from one of these countries, with a PCR test at the end of this period. There is a further week of self-isolation.
The costs of quarantine and the PCR test must be borne by the traveller, including those holding TRNC citizenship, currently set at 4,400 TL (approximately £510).
Positive test result by using rapid test device for COVID-19, novel coronavirus 2019 found in Wuhan, China. Photo © jarun11/iStock
