New Crisis HQ measures, as the next 72 hours are crucial in Serbia: These are the weekend rules

The most critical days are now before the citizens of Serbia, ever since coronavirus was registered in our country. In the next 72 hours, as President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic said, the number of those infected and killed by coronavirus is expected to accelerate. Although new measures were adopted yesterday, some have been changed today.

The next 72 hours may be the most important so far

Vucic announced that the peak of coronavirus is awaiting us in the next 15 days and that testing capacities have increased dramatically.

"The news is not good, I expect more sick and dead in the next 72 hours. This is not a prediction, this is something that is logical to expect. Today we have had three deaths while 81 people are on ventilators. The persons in our hospitals and field hospitals feel good. What we have noticed today as a regularity over the last three days since we increased testing is that there is a higher percentage of positives coming from Belgrade, Cuprija, Cacak and Valjevo," said the president.

As for Nis, the city managed to stabilize itself, while equipment has been sent to Cuprija, and ways are being sought to help Cacak.

"We will have a higher mortality rate and more infected people, and that is exactly what comes on the 15th and 16th day, when we had a large influx and a large number of newly infected. We've increased our testing capacities, and thanks to the Chinese, we will build a new laboratory," said Vucic.

Dr. Branimir Nestorovic also stressed the importance of being as careful as possible and respecting the measures now:

"Sit home for another three to four weeks. For that long social distancing should be very important," said Dr. Nestorovic.

About the curve of the newly infected

Dr Goran Stevanovic said that for the time being, the situation has been the way they attempted to keep it from the beginning, and there has been no exponential growth.

"The fact is that if we cut off all contact at this point, in two to three weeks we could expect a fall in the number of patients, and the number of deaths would be reflected two to three weeks after that. But it all depends on each of us individually," said Dr. Stevanovic.

Dr Darija Kisic Tepavcevic said that we could have avoided these deaths as well, but that it is very important to follow the prescribed measures so that there would be no more cases of infection.

New rules in force staring today, April 3

- People older than 65 can go shopping on Saturdays from 4 to 7 in the morning, this Sunday they won't be able to do it, because the ban on movement that day will be complete, around the clock, and affecting everyone. Stores will be open for senior citizens on Saturday from four to seven o'clock, and they will be able to leave their homes from three to eight in the morning because of grocery shopping.

- Pet owners can now take their pets out every day between 11 pm and 1 am and 8 am to 10 am on Sunday. A pet can only be walked by one person for 20 minutes, no farther than 200 meters from their registered place of residence.

- During the state of emergency, there can be a maximum of 10 persons attending funerals in Serbia, who must respect keeping distance amongst themselves of two meters.

New, reinforced measures, effective as of Thursday

- Ban on movement from Sturday at 1 pm until Monday at 5 am

- A maximum of two people will be able to gather in one place (at a time when movement is allowed)

According to the latest information, thee are 1,171 confirmed coronavirus cases in Serbia. The death toll in Serbia is 31. More than 53,230 people have died around the world and more than a million people have been infected so far.

(Telegraf.rs)