Pilav: We have a solid number of tests, we are starting mass testing

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – Aida Pilav, president of the KS Crisis Staff, said at today's press conference that epidemiological hotspots have increased in the last 48 hours, from four or five clusters starting from Konjic to two more mass gatherings that occurred in the past period.

A new cluster emerged after the death of a 52-year-old woman in Ilidža who worked at a company with 23 employees. The woman had not come to work for the last 12 days, but the company was nevertheless closed, and all employees are in self-isolation.

Pilav said that epidemiologists are working on this cluster and that samples from these clusters will be taken, and that results of previously taken samples are expected today. So far, all employees have been contacted by the competent services, but samples have not yet been taken.

Pilav claims they have a "solid" number of tests, and that there are no hospitalized patients.

"We expect tests in the coming period and we will start testing contacts, moving to a mass testing strategy. As the epidemiological situation changes, the testing strategy changes accordingly," said Pilav.

Pilav said that work is being coordinated with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of KS, so preparations have been made for monitoring people in self-isolation.

Although the Patria News Agency sent several questions regarding the death of the 52-year-old woman, who was not tested despite all the symptoms she had, we did not receive an answer from the authorities.

The question of whether the deceased woman's daughter was tested remains unanswered. Although information emerged that the daughter had been to Italy, this is not true, but epidemiologists have not yet contacted the daughter who lived with her mother and spent the past days with her.

Mehmed Kulić, director of the Public Institution Health Center, said that the patient's resuscitation was unsuccessful.

"Today we took measures to close the clinic from which the case originated. Regarding the case itself, she was treated several times at the Health Center and received therapy for respiratory problems. In several instances, an epidemiological link could not be established," said Kulić.