Mandić contrary to WHO recommendations: Mass testing is not the solution!?

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Vjekoslav Mandić, Minister of Health of the Federation of BiH, said that tomorrow marks 14 days since the isolation of those from the Konjic cluster. 

„We checked the primary contacts from the Konjic cluster. Goražde and Travnik also emerged from it. Now we are looking at secondary contacts. We covered Mostar and Bihać well, and everything would be better if the Crisis Staff had been listened to, where we adopted measures at the end of February. We were late in everything, but I hope we have come to our senses and will fight this,“ said Mandić.

He pointed out that in the Federation so far 400 patients have been tested, of which 45 are positive. 

„In Mostar, 16 were tested, five patients are positive. Four from Konjic and one from Široki Brijeg. In Sarajevo, 19 were tested, one positive. In Tuzla, eight were tested, all negative. We wrote recommendations, orders to adhere to self-isolation measures, and we often spoke about fines. I would like to praise all those who are adhering to the measures, by doing so they help us overcome this situation together!", added Mandić.

Responding to the question of whether the claim by Sebija Izetbegović that 150,000 tests will arrive in BiH in the coming days is true, Mandić says:

„Yesterday 1,500 arrived, tomorrow another 1,500, and by next Thursday 20,000 tests. We have a sufficient number, and mass testing cannot solve our situation. The tests will be evenly distributed across the cantons,“ says Mandić, and makes a claim contrary to the recommendations of the World Health Organization that the key lies in testing. 

„Mass testing is not the solution. Epidemiologists understand this issue. We will gain nothing from mass testing,“ claims Mandić.

Incidentally, the World Health Organization (WHO) in BiH stated that in the fight against the coronavirus, every suspected case must be tested.

As they say, more than 300,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) so far. It took 67 days from the first reported case to the first 100,000 cases, 11 days for the next 100,000, and only four days for another 100,000 cases.