We are in Week 6 of coronavirus epidemic: "Once it's over, we can expect number of cases to decline"

Serbia today entered the sixth week of the coronavirus epidemic, which was first registered here on March 6. Since the fifth week, which experts had been announcing as the most critical, we are emerging with a total of 66 deaths.

Just like the previous week, the coming one is equally important, because an increased number of people infected with the new coronavirus is expected then as well.

As Chinese doctors have also been saying, the peak of the epidemic in Serbia will be the fifth, but also this, sixth week.

This is why over the past days epidemiologists have been warning that now is the time to be particularly disciplined in order to prevent the spread of this contagious disease.

Epidemiologist Predrag Kon said at the end of the fifth week that the spread of coronavirus is at its maximum and that it would be that way for the next ten days, that is, during this sixth week.

He also said that "we are free to fantasize" about the abolisment of emergency measures, but that we must wait for the sixth week to pass to talk about it.

"Let's push through that sixth week and then the number of those infected can be expected to decline. Let the sixth weeks pass, we need an absolute ban on contact here. Every citizen of this country should hear this and act accordingly," said the epidemiologist.

That is why one of the more stringent measures taken in the fifth week was to ban movement, i.e., introduce a police curfew lasting from Friday at 5 pm until Monday at 5 am.

"What is planned from Friday is fully in line with this, a ban on movement also requires a ban on contact. Whether we will continue with that, we'll see, it all depends on the numbers. You will see the results of the actions from the previous weekend," said Dr. Kon.

The results of the fifth week will show in the sixth

Epidemiologist Professor Doctor Darija Kisic-Tepavcevic said that the measures adopted in the fith week would show results in the coming one.

"The effects of the extended curfew will be seen in a week or two, at that point we will be in a week when other countries had the peak of the epidemic," she stressed.

Doctor Goran Stevanovic, director of the Clinic for Infective Diseases in Belgrade, spoke at the beginning of the fifth week how important it would be for us to stick to all the measures adopted so far in the sixth week as well.

"If we cut off all contact at the moment, except that which is absolutely necessary, we could expect a slight fall in the number of patients in two to three weeks, and the number of fatalities would be two weeks behind," he said.

We enter Week 6 with 60-hour curfew

One of the most important measures that has been taken this week is a ban on outdoor movement from 5 pm on Friday until Monday at 5 am.

Only farmers on tractors will be exempted from this measure, while pensioners were able to go grocery shopping on Friday morning from 4 to 7 am.

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic also said that pet owners will be able to walk their animals during this coming weekend.

These times are in the morning, from 8 am to 10 am, and in the evening from 11 am to 1 am after midnight.

The decision applies to walks lasting up to 20 minutes, and going no farther than 200 meters from your place of residence.

(Telegraf.rs)