Čerkez: Too Early to Ease Measures, We Are Considering How to Shorten Quarantine

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – Goran Čerkez, member of the Crisis Staff of the Federal Ministry of Health, said that the number of infected is still satisfactory, thanks to the measures that have been taken.

“If we stop respecting everything we have been doing, the situation will worsen. In the next seven to ten days, we will see whether we will have new cases and what the period of five days when those over 65 were allowed to go out and collect their pensions has left behind. We hope we will not have major problems,” said Čerkez.

He emphasized that it is still too early to talk about measures of relaxation.

“We are monitoring the region and European countries on how they will do it. And as the WHO director said, it is important that it goes slowly and in line with the epidemiological situation, so that no one is put at risk. We have noticed that a certain number of citizens are violating recommendations. I would call on those who see this to report such people. It would not be good to tighten measures because of a few citizens who need to be sanctioned,” said Čerkez.

When asked by the media about the increasing number of healthcare workers on sick leave and whether checks will be conducted, Čerkez said he would rather thank those who have been at the service of patients 24 hours a day recently.

“In the Federation of BiH, we had over 30,000 people who were in self-isolation, all these people were monitored and controlled precisely by healthcare workers, and I would thank them. The employer is the one who controls sick leave, and the control of the Health Insurance Fund is in accordance with the law on health insurance. Mechanisms exist and should be applied,” said Čerkez.

On the question of the 28-day quarantine, Čerkez stated that recommendations are being followed, but also that it is a legal obligation under Article 46 of the Law on the Protection of Persons from Infectious Diseases.

“We are considering other possibilities to try to shorten that quarantine.”

Regarding mortality, it currently stands at 4 percent in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while in Wuhan it was 2.3%, and in Italy and Spain 10 and 11 percent respectively.

“It is very early to talk about complete statistics, because we need to be patient and wait until the end to see what the mortality rate in BiH is. We have done the most important task and reduced the impact on the health system,” he said, adding that the daily laboratory capacity is up to 800 tests, but that there are other capacities that can be included.

On the question of emergency operations being refused due to the coronavirus, Čerkez said that no law has been suspended and that emergency operations are being performed. The decision on this is made by medical institutions based on medical documentation.

Čerkez also answered Patria’s question about who citizens should turn to when they are denied health services.

“They can address the management of the health institution itself; if we are talking about urgent conditions, such conditions have not been refused anywhere, as far as we have information. Health care has not been suspended; they can contact crisis staff, courts, management of health institutions,” said the assistant to the federal minister of health.

In response to Patria’s question about what is currently needed for healthcare in the Federation of BiH, Čerkez said that equipment is being procured continuously.

“We are at a stage where a certain number of ventilators have arrived, we received 40,000 masks, and we expect additional assistance through Civil Protection based on our requests. We expect 100 ventilators. With this number of cases and current capacities, we can provide health care,” he said.