Only the NEW MEASURES AND SANCTIONS can stop this? In 7 days in November, people in Serbia became infected as much as in the first four months of the epidemic!

In the first week of November alone, up to 12,232 cases of infection were recorded in Serbia, while as of June 14, the number of people infected with Covid 19 was 12,310.

As a reminder, the first case of corona infection was registered on March 6. The speed with which the virus is spreading in Serbia this month is also demonstrated by the fact that on October 27 we had more than 1,000 patients a day, and on November 4 that number was over 2,000.

We set the record on November 7, when we had 2,677 new people infected in one day.

Photo: Aleksandar Dimitrijevic / RAS Serbia

There are also differences in the anti-epidemiological measures that are being applied now, especially in relation to March, April and early May.

The decision of the Serbian Government Crisis Staff three days ago toughened the ban on meetings in closed and open places, where instead of the previous 30 people, a meeting of more than 5 people is not allowed.

As regards offices, a measure has been in force for a long time, according to which a distance of two meters, that is, four square meters per employee, is mandatory. Wearing a mask is mandatory indoors. The cafes and restaurants still do not have reduced hours, so they are open until 11 at night.

Nor are cultural institutions, theaters and cinemas closed, where a distance of two meters is mandatory, wear a mask and respect a special procedure when entering and leaving.

On the other hand, in the first three months of the pandemic, in March, April and during the first seven days of May, a curfew was in force, that is, driving bans, some of which lasted four. Furthermore, most of the time, people over 65 were forbidden to leave the house.

It should be noted that theaters, cinemas, cafes, restaurants, shopping centers and similar facilities did not work at all.

Considering all of that, there is no question why Covid 19 has spread so fast in Serbia in recent weeks, especially when you consider that due to the colder weather, more and more people are staying indoors for longer.

On the other hand, the question is whether those restrictive measures from the first three months of the pandemic will ever return to Serbia, because it is unlikely that the economy will be able to withstand a new “wave of closure”.

Epidemiologist Sladjan Stankovic also explains for “Blic” why Serbia is breaking negative records in the number of people infected with Covid 19.

– At the moment, we do not have closure measures and restrictions on circulation that stopped the transmission of the virus in the first months. Unfortunately, the higher the number of patients, the higher the speed of transmission of the virus, which is currently spreading geometrically. It is very likely that whoever brings the virus home will also infect other colleagues. The virus is now neither stronger nor weaker, there are only more sources of infection – explains Stanković.

As he says, from a strictly professional point of view, Serbia is already seven days behind with the introduction of more restrictive measures.

– We have been fighting for days over whether or not we will shorten the work of cafes, restaurants or other catering facilities. Something similar happens with theaters and cinemas. What kind of games are we talking about when there is no bread? I think it is crazy to organize a festival in such circumstances, there is no commitment to a pandemic. We see that many countries in the west introduced quarantines a week ago, which will last through November, emphasizes Stanković.

Serbia went through the second wave of Covid 19 during the summer without more restrictive measures. However, it is unlikely that now he can deal with this plague in that way, you consider the interlocutor.

– The virus has shown that it does not bother you in the summer, but also that you like the cold especially since most people are indoors. I think that shortening the working hours of cafes and restaurants by two or three hours is not a big sacrifice, considering how fast the virus is currently spreading. Of course, each city must take action on its own in relation to the epidemiological situation. For example, the situation in Vranje is extremely unfavorable. In the last seven days there have been 143 new infections, the number of patients in hospitals is growing and we have 25 people on oxygen. For the sake of comparison, we had a total of 180 patients during October, Stanković stresses.

More exams at kovid dispensaries

By far the most difficult situation is currently in Belgrade, where there were 2,560 examinations at Covid dispensaries over the weekend. 240 examinations were performed at the Infectious Diseases Clinic and 87 patients were hospitalized, seven of whom were on a ventilator. Health Minister Zlatibor Lončar pointed out that the health care system is not designed so that it can put the whole of Serbia in it when ill.

– The worst situation is in Belgrade. This is where people behave most irresponsibly. The system has a certain performance that it can withstand, and the goal is for every patient to receive proper medical care, Lončar emphasized, adding that Zemun Hospital is returning to the Covid system.

Today, he added that the Pancevo General Hospital will also switch to the Kovid system, and as the situation is increasingly dramatic in Belgrade, positive patients from the capital are being sent to Mladenovac, Pozarevac and Smederevo.

The key laws have finally been changed and the theft is starting.

It should be remembered that the amendments to the Law on Protection of the Population against Infectious Diseases and the Law on Misdemeanors will be in the Serbian Parliament on Friday, November 13, and two key innovations are related to the punishment of violations in place, as well as more coverage. they can impose sanctions. Read all the details about the key changes to these laws at this link.

VIDEO: Loncar: The greatest pressure on the health system in Belgrade