North Cyprus Communicable Diseases Committee makes mask mandatory for individuals with Upper Respiratory Tract complaints

The TRNC Communicable Diseases High Committee on Monday announced a series of decisions in response to the increasing upper respiratory tract complaints; people with upper respiratory tract diseases and those in risk groups were made obliged to wear masks in crowded environments.

The Communicable Diseases High Committee made it mandatory for individuals with upper respiratory tract problems and those in risk groups to wear masks in crowded environments. 

The committee announced the six-point decisions as follows:

1. Individuals with upper respiratory tract complaints are required to wear masks in crowded environments.

2. People visiting nursing homes, hospitals, and prisons, as well as nursing home staff and individuals responsible for caring for patients aged 65 and above, are required to wear masks.

3. Individuals in risk groups (those aged 65 and older, those with underlying lung, kidney, or neurological diseases, people on long-term immunosuppressive medication, diabetics, HIV-positive individuals, and children under 5) must undergo testing if they have upper respiratory tract infections and should consult their doctors as soon as possible to receive the necessary treatment.

4. Personal hygiene rules must be observed.

5. Patients with upper respiratory complaints examined by doctors will be given medical leave certificates if deemed necessary by the attending physician.

6. As recommended by the Laboratory Committee, diagnostic tests used in the country (e.g., COVID-19 and other viral tests) must have CE-IVD certification.