NEUM Patrols by boat to prevent attempts of uncontrolled entry of infected persons

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs continues to intensively implement measures to suppress the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with the orders of the competent authorities in BiH/FBiH.

"The actions of federal inspectors conducting sanitary supervision of passengers at border crossings have been timely aligned with the orders of the Federal Civil Protection Headquarters, according to which the Procedures for health supervision of all passengers in international traffic entering Bosnia and Herzegovina via border crossings into the territory of the Federation of BiH and their placement under health supervision, i.e., mandatory isolation for a period of 14 days, are applied. I note that the order of the Federal Civil Protection Headquarters has further specified the procedures regarding sanitary supervision of drivers of vehicles in international transport," says the director of the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs, Anis Ajdinović, as stated on the official website of the Crisis Headquarters of the Ministry of Health of FBiH.

Following the adoption of the Decision on mandatory isolation of all BiH citizens entering BiH for a period of 14 days, from six o'clock on Tuesday, March 16, 2020, federal inspectors have been deployed at a total of 15 road border crossings in FBiH: at six regular border crossings (GP Bijača, GP Orašje, GP Izačić, GP Kamensko, GP Gorica, GP Bosanski Šamac, GP Aerodeom), at nine additional crossings (GP Doljani, GP Velika Kladuša, GP Gabela Polje, GP Bosansko Grahovo/Strmica, GP Osoje, GP Čepikuće, GP Neum 1, GP Neum 2, and GP Ivanica) and at GP Sarajevo International Airport, where they conduct 24-hour supervision of passengers and goods.

Starting Thursday, March 19, 2020, Federal traffic inspectors will patrol by official boat in the maritime border zone in the Neum waters, in order to prevent any attempts of uncontrolled entry of infected persons into the territory of the Federation of BiH by sea.

According to information available so far, and as of March 17, 2020, federal sanitary inspectors have issued a total of 5,752 decisions on placing passengers/persons under health supervision/restricted movement/isolation for a period of 14 days.

The supervision and measures have, according to data available so far, also covered a total of 408 BiH citizens residing in RS. The data, lists with names, surnames, and addresses of persons have been timely submitted to the Inspectorate of the Republika Srpska for further action and implementation of isolation measures. The same applies to 49 BiH citizens residing in the Brčko District, for whom data have been submitted to the Inspectorate of the Brčko District. This also applies to persons who arrived via Tuzla International Airport.

They remind that sanitary inspectors of the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs and the Inspectorate of the Republika Srpska impose isolation measures for all BiH citizens, regardless of their place of residence.

From the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs, they note that, within the framework of sanitary control, all passengers entering BiH/FBiH are obliged to fill out a sanitary questionnaire and provide accurate and credible information about the country they are coming from as well as their current health condition. Providing false information constitutes a criminal offense prescribed by Article 348 of the Criminal Code of FBiH, for which a penalty of up to three years in prison is prescribed.

"I again appeal to persons to whom federal sanitary inspectors have imposed measures of restricted movement/isolation for a period of 14 days to strictly adhere to the imposed measures and warn that violating the prescribed measures is punishable in accordance with Article 225 of the Criminal Code of FBiH. The prescribed penalty for non-compliance with regulations or orders of competent authorities is up to one year in prison," Ajdinović emphasized.

Cantonal police authorities are intensively conducting checks on persons who have been issued decisions on placement under health supervision/mandatory isolation for a period of 14 days, and regularly submit reports and official notes to the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs about persons violating the mentioned measures.

"In this regard, this administration has already opened six cases against which misdemeanor and criminal proceedings will be initiated against persons who do not comply with the ordered isolation measures," said Ajdinović.

Regarding the control of price formation and movement in FBiH, the duty team of the federal market inspectorate has, in the past three days, based on citizen reports, carried out 30 regular and 14 control inspection supervisions in pharmacies and other retail outlets, within which a total of 30 misdemeanor warrants were issued in the amount of 67,200 KM.

The Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs asks citizens to report any observed irregularities to their contacts: 033 /22 66 44 (open 24 hours), [email protected], and at the address Fehima ef. Čurčića no. 6, Sarajevo, as stated by this administration.