The handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was discussed at a high-level meeting at the presidential palace chaired by President Ersin Tatar.

The health services in the TRNC, the pandemic, the protection and improvement of the TRNC public’s health and treatment policies were taken up during the meeting.

Attending the meeting held on Thursday was the son of the late Major Nihat İlhan whose family had been killed in the Kumsal Massacre, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Türkiye’s Gazi University, the member of Türkiye’s Health Ministry Scientific Advisory Board Prof. Dr Necmi İlhan and the President’s Health Advisor Prof Dr. Nedime Serakıncı.

According to a statement released by the Office of the President, President Ersin Tatar evaluated the measures that were in place during the pandemic in comparison to other parts of the world.

Tatar said that the pandemic had been handled well in the TRNC as a result of the roadmap which had been determined during his term as prime minister.

He added that he continued to follow the process closely after his election as president and took steps to acquire Covid-19 vaccines.

Prof. Dr Mustafa Necmi İlhan for his part said that he had observed that the TRNC provided successful healthcare during the pandemic.

He added that the number of hospitalisations had dropped significantly despite the high number of cases recorded daily.

“People will be spending more time indoors in the fall with the reopening of schools and universities. That is why it is critical that vaccination boosters be carried out for covid, flu and pneumonia before the winter months,” İhan said.

The President’s Health Advisor Prof Dr. Serakıncı also pointed to the importance of taking personal measures in addition to public rules in preventing the spread of Covid-19.

She said it was important to practice social distancing and wearing masks indoors, particularly if one was displaying any symptoms.