Kon: It's easier to implement measures in a state of emergency, reduction in cases not encouraging

Photo: Tanjug/Serbian government/Slobodan Miljevic

The epidemiological situation is unfavorable in the entire territory of the country, regardless of the fact that in some places there are no infected people, because the situation is extraordinary in others, epidemiologist Predrag Kon has told RTS.

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He also said that there is no solid data to prove that the situation is improving, regardless of the fact that the number of registered daily cases has been reduced, at least according to official data, he stressed.

"That doesn't encourage me, because hospitals are full. The number of people on ventilators is increasing. We still have a situation where Covid outpatient clinics are under a lot of pressure. There are a large number of those with respiratory problems, new cases are constantly being discovered," he said, adding that citizens should help the healthcare system by respecting measures, especially by avoiding unorganized gatherings.

He warned that more than half of those cases became infected in various gatherings.

Regarding an obligation to wear masks for the whole of Serbia, he said that they are useful only if we all wear them indoors.

"That's significantly helpful, research has shown. If some people wear them, others don't, an elderly man or a chronically ill person only protects themselves 30% by wearing them," he said, adding that the peak of the epidemic depends on the success of the measures, and noting that fines started to be collected last Monday.

Kon also said that it was easier to implement measures when a state of emergency is declared.

"We have home isolation of patients and self-isolation of contacts. It's important for us to understand that we were able to implement strategic measures during the state of emergency. It should be clear to people that they have to participate in that," he said.

Regarding acceleration of testing in private laboratories, he says that he personally does not think that it would give results. He said that we are not close to the "red line" and that this should not happen.

He is also against using pools, because "every public pool is a risky place of gathering."

"You have to take much more care about distancing and use protective masks constantly," he stated, adding that people also tend to chat with someone they know when they go to the pool.

(Telegraf.rs)