Northern Cyprus politician warns of rising COVID cases, calls for preparedness

A TRNC member of Parliament and Spokesperson for the opposition CTP political party, Sıla Usar İncirli, has drawn attention to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, urging citizens to remain cautious and calling on the Ministry of Health to take immediate action.

Highlighting the need for institutional preparedness, İncirli stated:“The Ministry of Health must prepare the health system, organize emergency and outpatient services, ensure the supply of necessary medicines, take measures to reduce the pressure on the health system, and keep the public informed.”

According to İncirli, the country is currently experiencing a summer wave of COVID-19, similar to previous years. She noted that many patients showing symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections are, in fact, testing positive for the virus.

While emphasizing that the new variants are not more dangerous than earlier strains, İncirli underlined the importance of protecting high-risk groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses, and those with weakened immune systems.

She explained that common symptoms include extreme fatigue, fever, runny nose, cough, body aches, headaches, and particularly severe sore throat — often described by patients as feeling like a “razor cut.”

İncirli advised the public:“If you have such symptoms, rest at home, avoid contact with others, and drink plenty of water. If you belong to a high-risk group or if your symptoms are severe, you should seek medical attention immediately.”

Reiterating her call to the Health Ministry, İncirli criticized what she described as a lack of sufficient attention to the issue and stressed the importance of preparedness and transparency in managing the growing number of cases.