Igman Director and Three Non-Employees Test Positive for Coronavirus

(Patria) - Testing of individuals deemed most susceptible to virus transmission by the epidemiological service (based on a previously submitted questionnaire) was conducted on four people on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. The test results, delivered to us this morning, confirmed the presence of the COVID-19 virus in all four individuals. These include the director of the company "Igman" Konjic and three individuals who are not employees of "Igman" but were in direct contact with an infected person, as announced by the Bosnian company.

Currently, the company is implementing measures in accordance with the protocols of the relevant epidemiological service and crisis headquarters. Further instructions are awaited, and the public will be informed in a timely manner about any potential special measures.

"Furthermore, we inform the public that immediately upon learning that one of the guests from Serbia who attended the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the company 'Igman' on March 11, 2020, in Konjic, tested positive for COVID-19, we notified the competent epidemiological service and acted according to the received instructions. None of the individuals who had close contact with the guest from Serbia exhibited symptoms indicative of coronavirus, which was encouraging as management was able to prepare measures in a short period of time related to readiness for organizing work with reduced hours in two shifts, inform employees through internal channels about a potential carrier and recommendations from the epidemiological service, notify guests and staff from the March 11 event, and organize the procurement of a larger quantity of protective masks and disinfectants. We note that the 'Igman' collective has 1,255 employees and that regular business activities take place in over 16,000 m2 of production and auxiliary space at two locations," Igman stated.

The release of semi-information to the media by non-credible sources and the spread of panic, primarily through social networks during a declared emergency, has hindered efforts to implement the undertaken measures promptly and without delay, they stated in their response.

"Given the numerous inquiries as to 'why the gathering on March 11, 2020, was not canceled,' we are obliged to inform the public that the order prohibiting public gatherings in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was issued six days later, on March 17, 2020. The gathering organized by the company Igman Konjic on March 11, 2020, was held in accordance with the measures that were in force at that time," the statement reads.

We ask the media to refrain from tendentious reporting on the newly emerged situation with the COVID-19 virus in accordance with the recommendations of the crisis headquarters, to consider the specificities of organizing the work of a defense industry factory, and to direct all inquiries directly to the company 'Igman' d.d. K