By 4 PM, 289 Positive Coronavirus Cases in FBiH

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – By 4 PM, 289 positive coronavirus cases in FBiH, with 41 cases confirmed during the day, said Goran Čerkez, member of the Crisis Staff of the FBiH Ministry of Health.

Čerkez said that the situation is changing hour by hour.

“We look at the situation every day and monitor it, and the most important thing is that there have been certain changes in the movement regime for those over 65. We must adhere to personal protection measures, especially in the next five days. I would ask all fellow citizens who are not over 65 to avoid movement during that period. From 8 AM to 12 PM next week, I call on you not to go out and to allow them to move,” said Čerkez.

When asked whether doctors in healthcare facilities are sufficiently equipped, Čerkez confirmed that they are.

“BiH is in a crisis situation. The healthcare system is under the impact of this crisis. We are taking all measures to prevent the coronavirus from entering hospitals. But a hospital is a place of interaction, people come and go. This case that occurred at the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo did not affect the functioning of the healthcare system, and the citizens of BiH will not suffer any consequences. The system is functioning as it should,” said Čerkez.

Whether anyone is dealing with the mental health of citizens, whether there is consideration of the consequences of isolation for those over 65 and under 18, was one of the questions.

“In FBiH, there are 44 mental health centers, providing their services at full capacity. It is very clear to us that these categories are vulnerable, social contacts are reduced, especially for children. This is a moment to question ourselves; this crisis allows us to establish better contacts with children, to devise games. Children communicate among themselves, and there is also online teaching,” said Čerkez.

He said that the introduction of 15-day quarantines in FBiH has not even been discussed.

“If we are talking about quarantine, that is an extreme measure. We haven't even discussed it yet; that measure makes no sense at this moment. We call on citizens to reduce movement during the weekend, barbecues, and not to do those things they are doing; we see that promenades and parks are full. You are endangering both your own and others' health,” said Čerkez.

The next 15 days are crucial, we listen every day; the announced crucial 15 days have passed, what is the real truth about which period is critical, was one of the journalists' questions.

“Every day is crucial for us. We have certain epidemiological measures, we monitor them; thanks to the measures we have adopted, we have 289 infected today. The measures have yielded absolute results. We are entering a new phase, and there will be transmission within the community. No one will be spared, and anyone can get sick. We are doing everything that the whole world is doing to have a stable situation,” said Čerkez.

He confirmed that the EUFOR military base in Butmir is not a new cluster.