Pehar: More than 30,000 people under supervision in FBiH, a good anti-epidemic measure

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - From 6 PM yesterday until 10 AM today, 18 new samples were tested, of which five were positive, said Davor Pehar, Director of the Public Health Institute of FBiH, at a press conference.

“To date, 517 people have been tested in FBiH, with the virus confirmed in patients, mostly in HNK 26, in KS 9, ZDK 8, ZHK 7, USK 6, BPK 4, Posavski and SBK one each. To date, Tuzlanski and Canton 10 have not recorded positive cases,” said Pehar, adding that there have been three deaths so far.

According to him, more than 30,000 people in FBiH have been placed under supervision, which he considers a successful anti-epidemic measure.

Pehar called on citizens to behave responsibly and follow orders.

“The next two to three weeks are crucial regarding the appearance of coronavirus in FBiH, and the development of the situation will depend on all of us. If we are responsible, there will be fewer cases. This simultaneously means that we will have less burden on healthcare and avoid the Italian case,” concluded Pehar.

He stated that he is an epidemiologist and that the claim that the Crisis Staff does not have an epidemiologist is untrue.

“Also, the Crisis Staff of the Ministry of Health of FBiH is working and has been very active and diligent, and has issued a series of recommendations,” said Pehar.

The announced mass testing is not a new strategy, Pehar points out, but a continuation of activities that they as a Crisis Staff have already been carrying out.

“We are entering a phase when we expect a greater occurrence of local transmission, which will change our strategy from testing only those with clinical symptoms and epidemiological links to testing others as well.
There are enough tests, a new shipment is arriving today, and distribution will follow tomorrow,” said Pehar.