New COVID rules for Northern Cypriot border crossing

LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Amid a surge in coronavirus cases in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, there are now tighter rules for crossing the border between the TRNC and the Greek Cypriot administration.

Under the new Level 3 (red category) rules, issued by Turkish Cypriot authorities on Monday, people on both sides of the border must show certain medical documents to make the crossing.

People who have gotten the Sinovac, Sinopharm, or Sputnik vaccines or vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will be able to cross 14 days after they got their last doses along with a PCR or rapid antigen tests done within the last seven days.

There are similar rules for people who got the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccination.

Unvaccinated people will be able to cross the border after showing their PCR or rapid antigen tests done within the last 72 hours, or within seven days for unvaccinated high school students.