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The director of the World Health Organization office in Serbia, Marijan Ivanuša, says he fears Serbia is relatively close to closing due to the worsening epidemiological situation, but believes that “that day is not yet today.” He points out that if 95 percent of citizens wore masks, the state would never be in a position to stop life. “It is a simple and cheap measure, but it must be respected.” Commenting on the liturgy in the Cathedral on the occasion of the death of Patriarch Irinej, he affirms that he understands religious emotions, but that “as a doctor, he remains speechless.”
“The situation has been steadily deteriorating in recent weeks, and if that continues, I fear that Serbia will reach a point where life will come to a halt … The closure would have serious economic consequences, and we know they affect the health of people, that’s why WHO he thinks this should be the last resort … I’m afraid we’re relatively close to that day in Serbia, but that day isn’t today yet, “Ivanuša said on Novi dan on TV N1.
He noted that there is no universal answer to the question of when is the time when the closure is necessary, stating that it depends on how the virus spreads, where and how much hospital capacity there is in a country.
He says that what is currently happening in Serbia can be called the third wave, that is, the third worsening of the epidemic.
“The virus will return in more waves until we achieve herd immunity, but we can only achieve this with a vaccine, which seems close, but also distant”, estimates Ivanuša.
“Since the virus was discovered a year ago, this is an extremely rapid development of the vaccine. The vaccine is on the doorstep, but there will not be enough quantities for everyone. To achieve herd immunity, more than 60 percent of the population world needs to be vaccinated. ” “The first vaccines will be available, but there will not be a billion or three billion, but several million will be available, some will already receive it, but to achieve herd immunity, it will take a long time,” he said.
Any measure is useless if it is not respected
When asked if the latest measures by the Serbian government, which will take effect tomorrow, are enough to stop the spread of the virus, he stated that “the more intense the epidemic, the more severe measures are needed and the more time it takes for those measures have some effect. “
He adds that the most effective measures, which have been insisted on from the beginning, are physical distance, the use of masks, hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene.
“Wearing masks is a simple and cheap measure, but it must be respected. Any measure is useless if it is not respected,” says Ivanuša.
I understand religious emotions and, as a doctor, I am speechless.
Commenting on the liturgy in the Cathedral on the occasion of the death of the Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Irinej, when many believers did not wear masks and all were communicating from the same spoon, he said that “they understand religious emotions, Patriarch Irinej was well loved and as a doctor I’m speechless”. .
“We can show faith in God in different ways, and the church has tried to respect epidemiological measures, many have respected them but not all. But let’s also show respect for people who are in the same room as us. Life is holy and must be respected. “says Ivanuša.
When asked how you can reduce the number of people on public transport in the city, which is one of the places at risk for the spread of the infection, he said that you can increase the number of buses, “but you cannot do indefinitely. “
He recommends that people walk or cycle, which is good for health, but also that anyone who can do it from home.
The application is not a complete answer to track contacts.
Concluding that the contacts of patients with kovid-19 are not monitored in Serbia, he affirms that it is ideal to stop the epidemic so much that the epidemiological services can send the contacts of infected people. “
“When you have 6,000 new patients a day, you just don’t have the capacity to send all those contacts, so you have to act responsibly,” says Ivanuša.
When asked why there are no words in Serbia about the use of the contact tracker application, which is used in some countries, he said that “they are not a complete answer either, because if someone leaves the phone at home and goes out, no one will know. Where is”.
He points out that in some countries there has been controversy over possible abuses of the app, which can be used to monitor people, and not just to monitor the spread of kovid-19.
Schools are not sources of infection
He reiterates the WHO position that schools should remain open as long as possible, because “schools are not sources of contagion. It has been shown that children are usually infected by adults and not the other way around.”
“Children desperately need school. It is not difficult for good students to follow classes online, but for others yes, some do not have a good internet … And for children, socialization is extremely important ”, he says.
When asked what happens to teachers in schools who think they are at high risk of infection, he said that they should be provided with all the necessary protective equipment, as well as that they should be high on the priority list when they arrive. the coronavirus vaccine.
On the conclusion that teachers are not at all on the priority list, which includes health workers, the military and the police, he says that the priority lists have not yet been completed and that it depends on how many vaccines will be available and when.
And when it comes to healthcare workers, priority should be given to those who work with covid patients, because not all healthcare workers are at the same risk. Certainly, priority should be given to vaccination over 65, people with chronic diseases, employed in nursing homes. old man, “says Ivanuša.
Read more about kovid-19 and the consequences of the pandemic in the country and the world on the page. Coronavirus.
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