Izetbegović: No need to panic, but coronavirus cannot bypass BiH

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Three patients from China are under epidemiological surveillance at the University Clinical Center Sarajevo, and their coronavirus test results are expected by this evening, it was announced today at a press conference held at the UCC.

General Director of UCC Sebija Izetbegović said that they expect the KS Ministry of Health to get involved in the procurement of protective equipment as soon as possible. She called on the public not to panic, but to refrain from close contact such as hugging and kissing, and to improve hygiene.

"We are very surprised by the public's poor reaction. I have been expecting the Ministry of Health to address this all along. We have no particular fear, we want to inform the public that there is no need for panic, but we call on the Ministry of Health to get involved. We have a number of ventilators that we need to withdraw from the clinics. We expect the Ministry to get involved in procuring protective equipment. We don't care who will procure it," said Izetbegović.

By the end of the day, UCC will receive 500 tests from the World Health Organization, although UCC had already received tests earlier.

The Director of UCC reiterated that there is no dramatic situation and that she is concerned about a group of children from Grbavica II Elementary School who came from Milan and who, according to media reports, are also febrile. As she said, she was particularly surprised that the children were sent abroad at all, given the situation.

UCC states that they have all the capacities to respond to a potential positive case of the disease, and that the coronavirus will not bypass BiH, said doctor Rusmir Baljić, head of the Infectious Diseases Clinic at UCC.

"All protective measures have been implemented, we expect the results tonight. We will act accordingly. It is no longer a question of whether the coronavirus will come to BiH, it will surely come. The most important thing for the citizens is that we have all the capacities for potential positive cases of these patients. The clinic and UCC cannot bear these activities alone, other institutions must also be involved," added Baljić.