April 15, 2020 - The number of COVID-19 patients increased by five today, the Institute for Public Health announced. There are 288 confirmed coronavirus cases in Montenegro in total, four of which have been fatal. The majority of infected persons are from Podgorica (153). One of the newly confirmed cases comes from Plav and is the first COVID-19 patient in that municipality. Other new COVID-19 patients are from Ulcinj (3) and Podgorica (1).
Since the beginning of the epidemic, 3,884 tests have been conducted in Montenegro, representing a rate of 6,000 per million inhabitants.
At the moment, there were 16 patients at the Clinical Center of Montenegro, two of whom are on a ventilator. Seven patients were admitted to hospital in Niksic, four in Berane, and seven patients in Bar. According to Dr. Sasa Radovic, director of the Institute for Children'sChildren's Diseases, and a total of 41 children tested positive for the coronavirus, and only one of them required hospital treatment.
Forty-six citizens recovered from COVID-19
The Institute of Public Health said today that 46 patients have recovered from the coronavirus. Fourteen patients recovered in Podgorica, and 12 in Tuzi.
According to the Institute, seven people recovered from the coronavirus in Bar, three in Herceg Novi, Budva, Andrijevica and Ulcinj, and one from Tivat.
"Two negative results of the rtPCR test from a 24-hour sample are one of the healing criteria," explained the Institute of Public Health.
NKT: COVID19 measures in force until April 30
Extensive measures are in place in Montenegro to curb the spread of the coronavirus, including blocking many activities and restricting the movement of citizens. The first case of COVID-19 was registered on March 17, and the initial intention of the Government and the National Infectious Diseases Coordination Body (NKT) was to provide a more balanced growth curve for the number of patients. So far, it is bringing good results. The mortality rate in Montenegro is 1,4%, which is much better than most of the European counties are reporting.
The Government claims tall the introduced measures are grounded in the Constitution and the law, although some of them, such as banning a parent from taking more than one child for a walk, seem entirely pointless.
The following measures are in force until April 30:
1) ban on the entrance of foreigners with temporary or permanent residence in Montenegro;
Turnover of goods for Montenegro'sMontenegro's needs remains unhindered;
2) mandatory self-isolation for all Montenegrin citizens and foreigners with temporary or permanent residence in Montenegro;
3) ban on the provision of hospitality services in hotels;
4) closure of disco clubs, bars, and night clubs;
5) closure of hospitality facilities except for facilities delivering food;
6) ban on trading and hospitality activities in malls;
7) closure of playrooms;
8) closure of fitness centers;
9) casino closures, betting and gambling places;
10) limiting the number of buyers concerning the surface area of the facility - only one consumer on 10 square meters. Not more than 50 consumers can be inside the facility at the same time;
For malls and markets, the maximum number of people allowed to be present at the same time is 100;
11) responsible persons in trading facilities shall keep shoppers at least 2 meters apart;
12) responsible persons in trading facilities shall provide the implementation of health protection measures;
13) responsible persons in trading facilities shall display at the entrance of the facility notice of the maximum number of people who may be in the facility at the same time;
14) Municipalities, Capital and Old Royal Capital, shall identify potential facilities for the implementation of quarantine measures and propose to the Ministry of Health procedures for the further implementation of such measures;
15) ban on leaving the residential unit, Monday to Friday, between 7 am and 5 pm the next day and, on Saturday between 1 pm and 5 pm the next day and on Sunday between 11 am, and 5 pm the next day. Persons with pets are allowed to be out for 60 minutes maximum;
This ban does not refer to persons performing regular tasks and providing services of public interest. These persons should have a certificate issued by the employer.
16) ban on being in an open public area between 5 am and 7 pm;
17) ban on the organization of sports and recreational activities on all public areas;
18) ban on gatherings in residential units
Five positive COVID-19 cases in quarantine in Vučje
Five individuals who were in quarantine in Vučje tested positive for the. coronavirus.
"That confirms that institutional quarantines are justified. If there were those measures, those five individuals would have transmitted the virus to their families and spread the virus further," the Institute of Public Health'sHealth's Deputy Director, Dr. Senad Begic, said.
Regional consulting telephone-conference with WHO representatives
Director of the Clinical Center of Montenegro, Dr. Jevto Eraković, head of the Crisis Unit, Dr. Ranko Lazović, and assistant director, Dr. Nemanja Radojević, took part today in the regional consulting telephone-conference. Mr. Hans Kluge, Director of WHO for Europe and Dr. Bruce Aylward, WHO leader of expert visits to China and Spain, also took part in the conference.
As Mr. Kluge noticed, Montenegro applied a set of overarching and duly measures in combination with physical distancing, organization of the temporary hospital.
"The result is the epidemic curve getting even with a low mortality rate (1,4%). Looking forward, towards transitional actions with the aim of gradual abolition of measures, we consider it is necessary the transition should be regionally synchronized. Otherwise, there's a risk of infection reappearing", Clinical Center reported.
Metropolitanate Decided to Follow the Rules
National Coordination Body for Contagious Diseases has welcomed the decision of the Metropolitanate not to organize traditional Easter liturgies.
"Citizens of catholic confession did the same last weekend, and we are grateful for that. Citizens'Citizens' health and life are our top priority. Time will confirm our good intentions," the Government tweeted.
Source: Government of Montenegro, the Insitute of Public Health, CDM English, coronacg.live
