RS Government Prescribes Emergency Measures Throughout Republika Srpska

(Patria) - The Government of Republika Srpska announced that the Republican Headquarters for Emergencies has adopted a Conclusion on the mandatory implementation of measures to respond to the emergence of the disease caused by the new coronavirus (COVID-19) in Republika Srpska.

This conclusion prescribes emergency measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and the disease throughout the territory of Republika Srpska.

Read all points of this Conclusion below:

1. This conclusion prescribes emergency measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus "SARS-CoV-2" and the "COVID-19" disease throughout the territory of Republika Srpska.

2. In order to implement the emergency measures from point 1 of this conclusion for the prevention and suppression of infectious diseases, and for the protection and rescue of the population:

a) Until March 30, 2020, the following are prohibited in Republika Srpska:

- All public gatherings,

- Operation of catering facilities of all categories,

- Operation of shops, except for entities from sub-point b) of this conclusion,

- Operation of wedding halls,

- Operation of fitness centers (fitness, body-building clubs, and similar forms of organization),

- Operation of swimming pools, "wellness" and spa centers, individually and as part of hotel accommodation,

- Operation of children's playrooms,

- Operation of markets,

- Operation of private dental clinics,

- Operation of gambling organizers,

- Operation of sports organizations and sports schools, as well as training and organization of competitions for athletes of all categories.

b) The operation is limited:

- In shopping centers from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, where only food/general goods stores, pharmacies, and agricultural pharmacies may operate if they are located within the shopping center,

- Food/general goods stores, animal feed stores, and wholesale stores from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM,

- Convenience stores and businesses producing bread, pastries, fresh pasta, and cakes (exclusively in terms of selling their products) from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM,

Operation in the aforementioned entities in this sub-point of this conclusion should be organized while taking the following measures:

- Limiting the number of people who can be in the indoor retail space at the same time, by regulating the number of people who can enter at the same time at the entrance,

- Marking and organizing a distance of at least 1 meter between customers in front of the cash registers,

- Ensuring fast customer flow, quick exit from the premises, and measures for disinfection and enhanced hygiene in the indoor retail space,

- Public kitchens - allowed to operate through counters, without service within the premises,

- Delivery of groceries is allowed from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM for entities registered for such activities, with maximum hygiene and safety measures to be controlled by inspection authorities,

- Hotels, motels, and hostels - may provide accommodation services in their premises for their guests, and food and beverage services only for hotel, motel, and hostel guests,

- Gas stations and LPG stations - without limitations regarding the sale of fuel, other petroleum products, and gas, with a limitation for the part of the gas station housing the retail outlet from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM,

- Pharmacies and agricultural pharmacies - without changes to working hours, while taking the following measures:

- Limiting the number of people who can be present in the same retail space at the same time, by regulating the number of people who can enter at the same time at the entrance,

- Marking and organizing a distance of at least 1 meter between customers in front of the cash registers,

- Ensuring fast customer flow, quick exit from the premises, and measures for disinfection and enhanced hygiene in the indoor retail space,

c) Republican administrative bodies and bodies of local self-government units and other entities exercising public authority are obliged to organize their work as follows:

- In all organizational units of republican administrative bodies and bodies of local self-government units and other entities exercising public authority, organize work with the minimum number of necessary employees on-site, and send other employees to work from home or work at home,

- At the entrance to all official premises of the bodies referred to in this point that provide services to citizens, limit the number of people who can enter and stay in the body's premises at the same time, prevent lingering in the body's premises and the formation of long queues indoors,

- Maintain a distance of at least 1 meter between citizens in indoor administrative premises, while taking measures for disinfection and enhanced hygiene,

d) Health centers will reorganize their work according to the agreed recommendations and conclusions of the competent Ministry, whereby:

- Organize to provide health protection primarily to persons who may be infected with the coronavirus,

- Prioritize and conduct without delay the surveying of persons who have been in contact with infected individuals, proposing home isolation for all first contacts, and submit all requested data to the Institute of Public Health and competent institutions in accordance with recommendations,

- Organize uninterrupted (24/7) reporting, response, and service for individuals reporting due to entering the country at border crossings,

- Provide dental services in emergency cases while respecting all preventive measures.

3. Inspection supervision over the implementation of this conclusion shall be carried out by the Republican Administration for Inspection Affairs through competent inspectors and inspectors within local self-government units and the Municipal Police.

4. Local self-government units are obliged to align their acts with this Conclusion, and to adopt more restrictive measures than those adopted by this act, in accordance with the epidemiological situation in their territory.

5. Republican administrative bodies and bodies of local self-government units, as well as legal entities exercising public authority, are obliged, in case of adopting acts or changes in the mode of operation, to submit a report on the same to the Expert-Operational Team formed for the needs of the Republican Headquarters for Emergencies without delay.

6. The Order on the mandatory implementation of measures to respond to the emergence of the disease caused by the new coronavirus (COVID-19) in Republika Srpska ("Official Gazette of Republika Srpska", No. 14/20), the Order on the mandatory implementation of measures to respond to the emergence of the disease caused by the new coronavirus (COVID-19) in local self-government units in Republika Srpska ("Official Gazette of Republika Srpska", No. 23/20), the Order on the mandatory implementation of measures to respond to the emergence of the disease caused by the new coronavirus (COVID-19) in healthcare institutions and social welfare institutions in Republika Srpska (COVID-19) ("Official Gazette of Republika Srpska", No. 23/20), the Order on the mandatory implementation of measures to respond to the emergence of the disease caused by the new coronavirus (COVID-19) by the Republican Administration for Inspection Affairs in Republika Srpska ("Official Gazette of Republika Srpska", No. 24/20), the Order on the mandatory suspension of programs for children in the year before starting school for preventive action and prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) No. 07.32/052-2094-1/20 dated March 10, 2020, the Order on the mandatory suspension of work in student dormitories for preventive action and prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) No. 07.32/052-2094-1/20 dated March 16, 2020, the Order on the mandatory suspension of educational work in primary and secondary schools for preventive action and prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) No. 07.32/052-2094/20 dated March 10, 2020, Order 19.02/616-7/20 dated March 10, 2020, on the operation of higher education institutions and student standard institutions, and the Order on mandatory monitoring of persons under home isolation due to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) in Republika Srpska ("Official Gazette of Republika Srpska", No. 24/20) shall apply after the entry into force of this Conclusion.