The erasure of Northern Cyprus as a place that exists, has conveniently extended to disregarding that we successfully dealt with COVID and, more importantly, ~how~. A thread:

We are a population of approximately 700,000. Incredibly we only had around 100 cases of COVID, and only 4 deaths. We did lockdown properly for 2 months and have returned to almost complete normalcy, with no reported cases for a month.

We had already seen the impact the virus had on Italy. So on the night we learned of ONE infected person in North Cyprus, many people closed their bars and restaurants without waiting for government order.

The following morning the government instructed that only supermarkets and pharmacies remain open.

The border was closed and all flights were grounded.

We were told which hospitals were specifically for people worried they had COVID, so other hospitals could remain free from the virus.

We were not allowed into supermarkets and pharmacies without face masks and gloves.

Outside many of these places COMPLIMENTARY gloves, hand santizer, and face masks were provided.

Everyones temperature was taken at the entrance before being let in.

We were not allowed to travel between towns, and wardens remained at check points to ensure we weren’t.

We could go for walks but face masks and ideally carrying hand sanitizer was advised.

People who relied on their own business for money were financially helped by the government.

Neighbours also helped those less fortunate by leaving bags of food outside doors, or offering their own money where they could.

We stuck to the rules and after two months there were no new cases of the virus and slowly everything began to re open.

It is still required we wear a mask and our temperature is still being taken outside every shop.

In clothes shops you cannot try the clothes before buying.

Bars and restaurants were the last to open. Staff wear gloves and masks. Gloves and masks are not required here for customers. Tables are set at a distance, and our temperature is also taken outside many bars. Hand sanitizer is also complimentary.

I dont doubt the size of the island has helped. But culture has been a huge factor and that is key when comparing to countries like the UK and US. We have an innate sense of community and a hierarchical system with our elders at the top (which is even reflected in our language).

We are not a dictatorial, authority, rule loving nation (you should see the way we fucking drive). But we inherently understand what it means to be a COMMUNITY (this word again). And also to protect and respect our elders without question.

We’re also big on hospitality, so neighbours feeding each other and establishments offering complimentary equipment is part of a national characteristic.

And let’s face it, the hand sanitizer is just an extension of every household offering guests cologne. It’s our tradition.

We’re not a faultless nation. Another national characteristic is being mad hypochondriacs. Which in this instance kinda worked in our favour lol.

I’m going to add that we’re also a country still economically and emotionally fucked by war. A civil war all our elders lived through. So sitting at home for two months is far from the worst thing to happen to us. (You lot have really been showing your spoilt privilege).

Lockdowns—when done immediately and respected by EVERYONE—work. They absolutely work and we are proof of this.

4 deaths out of 700,000 people is remarkable. So is only 100 infections. And our economy is able to return sooner than other countries because of these figures!

There IS evidence for lockdowns saving hundreds of thousands of lives. And Northern Cyprus is an impressive example of that.

There is no reason the UK or US should have the worst death tolls, without telling you everything you need to know about eugenics tinged incompetence.

Thanks for reading.