The Banja Luka City Headquarters for Emergency Situations decided Thursday that face masks are not obligatory outdoors, but the citizens were recommended to adhere to the prescribed epidemiological measures in accordance with the situation, so as to protect their own health, Anadolu news agency reported.

“It was stated, during today's session, that the current epidemiological situation in Banja Luka is still unfavourable, but that there has been a slight decline in the number of infected people on a daily basis,” the statement said.

According to the Banja Luka HQ, it was decided that public gatherings of up to 30 people are allowed in the city, as envisaged by the measures of the Republika Srpska (RS) entity Emergency HQ for the territory of this entity.

Due to the unfavourable epidemiological situation, the Banja Luka HQ previously adopted measures that are stricter in relation to the measures adopted by the RS HQ.