Dr. Radovanovic: I would accept canceling Covid passes, if all other measures remain in place

Photo: Tanjug/AP

Epidemiologist Zoran Radovanovic says that, had he the opportunity, he "would not even have introduced Covid passes the way they were introduced," but would find their canceling now acceptable, while insisting on other measures.

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"The only thing we must not do is declare victory over the virus, that is still a long way off," he warned.

Speaking about media reports that the passes will be canceled during the upcoming meeting of the Crisis HQ, Radovanovic said that, if he had the opportunity, he would not have introduced them the way they were introduced, N1 reports.

"Instead I would have stuck to European experiences and the fact that the virus does not have working hours, that it is not a vampire who only works at night," he told the broadcaster, referring to Covid passes being mandated in Serbia's hospitality establishments starting at 8 pm.

Radovanovic stressed that "the only thing we must not do declare victory over the virus, that is still a long way off."

He added that he would accept the canceling of Covid passes, but would insist on other measures.

"We are on that descending arm of the sixth wave, however, there has been a small delay, unfortunately we cannot assess the reasons or trends, because we are doing little to determine the variants of the virus. This is now going by the natural deadline, the only thing we need to be aware of is that on the list of countries that have fared the worst we are in second place behind Bulgaria, here there there is 800 per 100,000 surplus mortality, and in Bulgaria even more. It is striking on a global scale, and then the question must be asked what we've done wrong, how we came to such be in such a bad position," he said.

The virus, he added, will not go away.

"It will be almost non-existent over the summer, we don't expect any dramatically changed circumstances regarding new variants, but the virus will become endemic, we will have it in the fall, next winter there will be small waves, the big waves are over, according to what one can assess, judge. Surprises are not probable, we have to learn to live with that virus, endangered segments of the population will be vaccinated next fall, whoever is reasonable enough will roll up their sleeve, it is up to the state to give citizens that opportunity," said Radovanovic.

(Telegraf.rs)