TRNC police warns public of mandatory use of masks, offenders will be fined or jailed

TRNC government on Friday issued a warning that anyone out in public without a mask would be fined  or jailed for up to one year.

On Wednesday, the TRNC Council of Ministers issued a decree mandating all residents to wear a mask when out in public, a decision that came into effect on Friday, April, 24. 

As part of the measures, wearing a mask in public was obligatory. This includes people going for shopping but also those working in direct contact with the public such as shops, pharmacies, hospitals, petrol stations and banks. 

On Friday, Turkish Cypriot General Directorate of Police in an announcement stressed that legal action will be taken against those who do not comply with the ban. The police called on people who have acquired permission to go out on the street to follow the rules and required to wear a mask in public as of Friday.

The statement of the police included the following statements:

As part of the measures taken by the Council of Ministers of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), everyone on the street for such reasons as food shopping, pharmacies, hospitals, fuel purchases and banks) in order to meet fulfil their permit requirements are obliged to wear a mask.

This is a reminder that legal action will be taken against those who do not comply with the ban within the scope of the decree, and we ask everyone to follow the rules.

Those found without one, will be subject to a fine, equivalent to 10 per cent of the minimum wage, around 382 Turkish Lira or sent to jail for a period of one year or less.

So far, the TRNC has recorded a total of 108 coronavirus confirmed cases with 4 deaths while no new cases were reported in the last 6 days.