Skopje, 19 March 2025 (MIA) — The minister of health and the prime minister have a duty to visit the injured and wear respirator masks during hospital visits, according to Health Minister Arben Taravari at a news conference earlier Wednesday when asked if he had worn the appropriate patient protective apparel to prevent transmitting infections when visiting burn victims in intensive care units.

Minister Taravari stressed that hospitals required only masks be worn when visiting patients with less severe burns. ICU guidelines were stricter, he said.

"I hope that we, as a government, strictly adhere to this," he said.

When visiting hospitalized patients "who have lighter injuries, that is, first-degree burns," he said, "we do not need anything other than a mask."

"For those who are in intensive care, there are rules both here and abroad. Even if we wanted to, we would not be able to go in without the appropriate apparel," the health minister said.

Asked about his visit Tuesday to the burn patients in critical condition who were on mechanical ventilation at a hospital in Bulgaria, Taravari said that anywhere he visited patients, he was appropriately dressed.

In addition to respirator masks, visitors are often required to wear clean gowns, caps and gloves when visiting patients in burn intensive care units to protect the patients against pathogens carried on clothing.

Wearing a respirator mask protects the wearer and those around them against airborne pathogens by preventing disease transmission through the air. mr/