Mandić: Persons in quarantine must be tested after 14 days and released if negative

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – Minister of Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Vjekoslav Mandić said at today's press conference that the order of 26 March began the application of quarantine in accordance with the Law on the Protection of the Population.

„On 10 April, an order of the Federal Civil Protection Headquarters was issued prescribing that all persons entering BiH must be placed in quarantine. Operationally, quarantines are located at the cantonal level, and all costs are borne by the Federation of BiH. All persons entering BiH are kept in tent facilities, lists are made, and the federal minister issues a decision on quarantine, while cantonal civil protection units escort persons to the canton where the quarantine is designated. The decision prescribes a quarantine of 28 days, i.e., a double incubation period as prescribed by law,“ said Mandić.

He said that on 14 April, the WHO issued a recommendation, which the Federal Ministry forwarded to cantonal ministries of health and public health institutes, that quarantine can be reduced to 14 days, provided that test results after 14 days and an epidemiological report are available.

The minister emphasized that due to some interpretations that have arisen in the public, he wants to clarify that the Crisis Staff of the Ministry of Health includes eminent experts, virologists, and epidemiologists who work diligently.

„When the Federal Civil Protection Headquarters took over crisis management, we became an advisory body,“ said Mandić.

Asked whether new tests will be procured, the minister said that for now there are enough tests and that if the need arises, tests will be procured.

„Only the profession and epidemiologists can decide who will be tested. We are now testing a larger number of residents daily, and we are now in local transmission, and that is what this pandemic requires,“ said the minister.

Why people in quarantine are not being tested was one of the questions for Minister Mandić.

„I don't know why they are not being tested, and we sent a recommendation that they be tested after 14 days and, if negative, that people be released from quarantine,“ explained Mandić.

The minister expressed regret that a situation has arisen where people in quarantine are refusing food and endangering their health.
 
„Epidemiologists are obliged to perform testing after 14 days, and if the test is negative, those persons must be released from quarantine,“ said Mandić.

Health centers should make an effort to have enough tests, and testing is done in Mostar, Tuzla, and Sarajevo.

The Government of the Zenica-Doboj Canton should provide quarantine space.

„As a precaution, we must keep these people in quarantine for 14 days and then test them,“ said the minister.

The minister said that health services must not be denied and that operations and necessary procedures must be performed.

„If we experience an expansion and the number of patients suddenly increases, then we will not have enough staff or equipment,“ said Mandić.