TRNC Health Minister warns about the possibility of a second waves of coronavirus

TRNC Health Minister Ali Pilli has warned the public regarding a second wave of the coronavirus to hit the TRNC.

He made the statement while evaluating the latest developments taking place in the country to the TAK news agency on Thursday.

People think it’s over but it’s not, I’m anxious and concerned, Pilli said.

We have been conducting tests for a couple of days now and we have not come across the virus but that does not mean that the threat has ended. We cannot act as though nothing is going to happen if we do this then the second wave may hit us. It could be worse. People have forgotten and are not being cautious or taking precautions. We must continue to take precautionary measures, the health minister said.

He urged people against being complacent, noting that a second wave could be avoided if people continue to be careful.

He explained that although the public was aware of the severity of the situation they had started to let down their guard, Pilli pointed out that 70 per cent of the population was not using their masks or were not abiding by social distancing rules.

He noted that 31,000 tests have been conducted to date since the first case was confirmed on March 10.

Asked how much longer testing will be carried out in the TRNC, Minister Pilli said that as long as the pandemic continues around the world then testing will continue in the country and added that he did not believe a vaccine will be found in the near future.

He added that Eliza testing kits, which will allow them to have a better picture of the country in terms of coronavirus, will be arriving from Germany soon.

Explaining that he believes that the populations’ immunity to the virus is around two per cent, Minister Pilli said that with the outcome of the testing the results will become clearer.

BRTK