Mandić: 612 cases confirmed in FBiH, 18 passengers from Italy can go home

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – Minister of Health of FBiH Vjekoslav Mandić stated that in the past 24 hours, 447 samples were tested, and 24 were positive for Covid 19.

In FBiH, 6,621 samples have been tested so far, and 612 people are positive, of which 330 are women and 282 are men.

In FBiH, 70 patients are hospitalized, and 55 patients have recovered, with an increase in that number expected in the coming days.

Of the 24 deaths, 13 were women and 11 were men.

“The epidemiological situation is satisfactory, we are trying to slow down the spread of the disease and not to collapse the health system so that it cannot function further,” said Mandić.

Bosnian citizens who returned from Italy on March 27 were tested for the second time and are negative for the presence of coronavirus, and the minister, at the proposal of the Crisis Staff of KS, signed a decision on completed isolation.
“The test results should be delivered to them by whoever tested them. The isolation for these 18 passengers is completed, and I have signed the decision that they can be free and go home,” confirmed Mandić. 

When asked if there is enough coordination between the crisis staffs, the minister explained that the Ministry of Health of FBiH has constant communication with the Ministry of Security, Civil Affairs, as well as the Border Police of BiH.

Regarding coordination at the level of civil affairs, Mandić stated that it was established for communication between the entity ministries of health and Brčko District.

“I think these activities are quite coordinated, and BiH has responded well to this infection, for which we have also received confirmation from the World Health Organization,” said Mandić.

To a journalist's question whether the inspection banned coronavirus testing at the Alea genetic center and why it was done, the minister said that the Ministry was not informed about it.

“According to the current law, a private institution cannot test unless it regulates it by contract with a public health institution and is certified, and then that testing can be performed,” explained Mandić.