KS Crisis Staff: Special precautionary measures for children and the elderly

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - As stated at today's session of the Crisis Staff of the KS Ministry of Health, the epidemiological situation in Sarajevo Canton is stable, with no confirmed cases of coronavirus presence. Enhanced epidemiological surveillance measures are still being taken in accordance with the information from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Crisis Staff of the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Cantonal Ministry of Health, with the aim of early detection of potential cases of virus appearance, their isolation, treatment, and prevention of spread.

Primary and secondary schools have been advised not to organize excursions and school trips to countries and areas where coronavirus cases have been registered. Also, students and teachers are urged, given that it is also flu season, not to come to school in case of respiratory health problems.

The same recommendation applies to kindergarten teachers and parents, who should not bring children to kindergartens in case of such health problems. The KS Public Health Institute has recommended suspending visits to nursing homes and ordered enhanced hygiene measures for staff working with the elderly, given that they are the most vulnerable population category to coronavirus.

"Elderly people and chronically ill individuals are recommended to use public transport as little as possible during this period and to avoid places with large gatherings of people," the KS Crisis Staff recommendations state.

Enhanced health surveillance of arriving persons continues. In case of respiratory symptoms (fever, cough, and difficulty breathing), individuals should call the duty Hygiene-Epidemiology Service of the Sarajevo Canton Public Health Institute to receive instructions on further action by phone at: +387 62 086 282
+387 62 030 778 +387 62 030 796 +387 62 030 728.

Also, individuals with the aforementioned symptoms should not come to health centers and other healthcare facilities on their own. In addition to the aforementioned phone numbers, it is possible to contact your family doctor for recommendations on further action. Once again, we emphasize that testing for Coronavirus is not performed at the request of individuals, individually, but exclusively according to strict medical and epidemiological indications, and after medical examinations and epidemiological surveys.

Recommendations for the population

Avoid large gatherings of people indoors, as well as outdoors, to prevent droplet transmission of infection; Avoid close contact with individuals whose health status is unknown (hugging, kissing, shaking hands); Avoid close contact with individuals with acute respiratory infection, and if necessary, use surgical masks and gloves; Wash hands frequently with warm water and liquid soap, or use an alcohol-based disinfectant if unavailable;

Consume adequately thermally processed food, especially meat; Enhance environmental hygiene measures (cleaning, disinfection, ventilation); Avoid unprotected sexual intercourse with individuals whose health status is unknown; Avoid sharing injection equipment for drugs or other substances; Strengthen immunity with adequate nutrition and lifestyle; Regularly use prescribed therapy by a doctor.