DECREE - COMPULSORY USE OF MASKS BY THE GENERAL POPULATION

 Filenews 20 August 2020

With the aim of protecting citizens and public health from COVID-19 disease, today's Decree of the Minister of Health extends the validity of the measure for the mandatory use of a protective mask by the general population, aged 6 years and over.

The use of a mask is mandatory by the general population indoors, where there is increased public aggregation, namely in the following premises/spaces:

• Supermarkets / Bakeries
• Department Stores / Retail Shops / Shopping Malls
• Churches
• Hospitals / Clinics / Nursing Homes / Other Health Care Institutions
• Pharmacies
• Public and wider public sector services/departments and private enterprises that welcome/serve the public (e.g. banks, JEPs, Post Offices, EAC, etc.)
• Betting agencies
• Lifts

It is recalled that non-compliance with the measures constitutes a violation of an Order by the citizen himself and the fine of €300 is borne by the citizen himself and not by the company/premises.

As far as workers are concerned, it is specified that the use of a protective mask is mandatory for workers in public service positions, as follows:

• Means of Mass Transport (e.g. bus drivers),
• Indoors of private enterprises, Departments of public and general public sector, serving an audience, such as Citizens' Service Centres, Post Offices, couriers, points of payment of accounts of Agencies (e.g. EAC, CYTA, Local Government), etc.,
• People working in direct public service positions in retail businesses. Indicative:
  • Funds of supermarkets, bakeries, pharmacies, popular markets, retail shops, etc.
  • Public service in parts of the food chain such as butchers, fish shops, fruit shops, kiosks, mini markets, retail trade (e.g. businesses selling clothes and footwear, cosmetics, etc.), etc.

• Distributors
• Construction workers: People working in the construction sector are required to use disposable masks when travelling by car (the number of people in the car must not exceed 2 persons) and when using lifts.

It is noted that the maximum wholesale and retail selling price of masks is set out in the Decree of the Minister of Health, dated 20 August 2020. Any violation of this Order should be reported immediately at 1429 (Consumer Line) in order to take appropriate measures.

Source: eyenews