April 26, 2020 - An 83-year-old patient who was positive for the coronavirus passed away at the Internal Clinic of the Clinical Center of Montenegro. He is the seventh victim of COVID-19 in Montenegro. Among 216 analyzes completed, the Public Health Institute did not register new patients today.
The Montenegrin Army evacuated a Ministry of Defense's officer from Pristina with COVID-19. The total of confirmed cases in Montenegro is now 321. Seven patients passed away, 153 have been cured. Currently, 20 patients are hospitalized.
With the loosening measures against COVID-19 comes the obligation to wear a mask
Montenegrin citizens will have to wear masks, or headscarves that cover their nose and mouth, as of May 4, according to the Institute of Public Health (IJZ). They recommend that citizens should take masks always and everywhere.
"We are obliged to wear masks whenever we are in a public indoor space - in shops, banks, post offices, hairdressers and beauty salons," the statement said.
By number of COVID-19 cases, Montenegro is the fourth in the region
In the region, in terms of population, the most infected viruses are registered in Serbia, in the second place is Northern Macedonia, and in the third is Slovenia. Montenegro ranks fourth with 510 infected per million inhabitants.
Thousand hundred forty-six per million inhabitants were infected in Serbia, in North Macedonia 677, and Slovenia 674.
In fourth place is Montenegro, with 510 affected per million population, followed by Croatia with 498, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) with 426 and Albania with 252 infected per million.
In terms of the number of infected persons, the highest death rate is in Slovenia, 5.87 percent, followed by Northern Macedonia with 4.33 percent, Albania 3.86, and BiH 3.81.
The death rate in Croatia is 2.71, in Montenegro 2.18 and Serbia 1.94 percent.
The highest number of people tested is in Slovenia, 23,432 per million, the second place is Montenegro with 10,016, and the third place is Serbia with 9,239. In fourth place is Northern Macedonia with 8,943 per million people, Croatia with 7,770, and BiH with 7,271 tested per million.
Montenegro and COVID-19 - the state of the nation in the first six weeks
The Center for Civic Education (CCE-CCE) published a report, "Montenegro and the Corona - State of the Nation in the First Six Weeks." The document analyzes the institutional framework and practice, respect for human rights, then the position of the opposition, the media, and civil society, with a brief look at some issues related to independent institutions during the COVID-19 epidemic.
The report finds excellent results at the level of public health protection, thanks to certain parts of the system that have shown a capacity to successfully manage this health crisis, as well as the responsibility and discipline of Montenegrin citizens in adhering to the measures and following the recommendations.
The report emphasizes that respect for democratic principles and human rights and freedoms and protection of public health cannot and should not be opposed. The facts, perceptions, and experiences of different parties are a concern that in the complex Montenegrin socio-political milieu, which is also characterized by institutions of low democratic capacity, it is easy to go beyond some things that can return in the form of serious problems.
In the context of a state of emergency without a declared state of emergency, special attention was given to crisis management, which was characterized by formal shortcomings and political choices, which was evident through the unknowns about the basis for the formation, competencies, and method of operation of the National Infectious Diseases Coordination Body (NKT). Also, this was characterized by party framing in which independent experts were marginalized. The measures by the NTK, as well as the way of communication to different publics, were analyzed.
Among the positive and insufficiently communicated aspects of the media, the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the process of returning Montenegrin citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic to Montenegro is highlighted.
The educational system was quickly transformed to ensure studying at home, which was accompanied by a great effort, enthusiasm, and dedication in that system, as well as additional involvement of the parents themselves and a different approach to children.
In Montenegro, even under normal circumstances, there is no necessary balance of the three branches of the political system, nor the independence of those institutions. This imbalance is even more evident in the first six weeks of the pandemic. The Assembly was practically "on the respirator," without a plenary session until two days ago. The Assembly has shown no initiative to participate in solving the problem actively.
The work of the Government is characterized by non-transparency. There is no information on the dates and content of the eight sessions from March 19 to April 24, 2020, and no integral materials from those sessions are available, as has been the practice so far. Throughout the period, only a few announcements were issued, from which we find out that "the Government of Montenegro without holding a session and based on the consent of the majority of members" made many decisions and shows that arrangements were also taken on issues that were not urgent. Neither of these decisions included proposals by the critically oriented NGOs that participated in the dialogue through the Alliance for Europe initiative.
There were no serious complaints about the work of the police, inspections, the Army, and other bodies that took care of the implementation of the measures and orders. Still, it is too early to conclude that all this time, they worked by laws and regulations. Interestingly, no publicly voiced dissonant official voice from the judiciary and independent institutions regarding the decisions and measures of the Government was noted. Although it has halted many essential processes, the pandemic of the virus corona has not affected the continued systematic "subjugation" of institutions that define the legal framework as independent - such as the Anti-Corruption Agency (ASK) and the Personal Data Protection Agency (AZLP).
The issue of employment in public sector bodies is usually the focus of the opposition, the media, and NGOs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many missed the dozens of public announcements advertised by schools, the Tax Administration, the Ministry of Defense, etc.
The systematic violation of human rights was especially elaborated through the publication of the list of persons in self-isolation. Then the application of the disputed Article 398 of the Criminal Code relating to the spread of panic and disorder, as well as measures for restricting movement and prohibiting the gathering of citizens, which were adopted without conducting constitutional procedures for introducing such measures. In all these human rights violations, institutions in Montenegro have "stayed home" and remained silent. Concerning the implementation of rules and orders, the practice of sanctions has been uneven.
The prevailing impression is that the opposition was mostly (self) isolated, with somewhat stronger reactions following the announcement of the Government's economic measures. The opposition parties proposed many steps, including valuable proposals, but also populist projects. For the most part, the Government ignored everything coming from the opposition. The election in Tivat was delayed by a pandemic, not by law, the report said, elaborating on the illegality of the president's decision to postpone this election, which was not a subject of interest of either the opposition or the NGOs monitoring the election.
The non-governmental sector operated with reduced intensity and a changed mode of operation, which affected coverage of topics and users. NGOs' reactions to human rights violations, issues related to the draft Law on Free Access to Information, and the election of directors of the AHLP, as well as those related to marginalized groups (Roma, PWD, women), are noted. It is emphasized that civic activism has also come to light through numerous individuals who have shown solidarity and willingness to help voluntarily or through some organizational forms.
The media, for the most part, proved immune to the therapy the Government was giving them, as illustrated by the fact that in Montenegro alone, no media and media organization found anything controversial in NKT press conferences without journalists. However, not all have ditched the blade equally, and it seems that in recent days more topics have been opened up that are not dictated by the authorities.
Pointing out deficiencies in the application of democratic principles and respect for human rights at a time when public health is being prioritized is not popular, but necessary and curative precisely for the health of society during and after the pandemic, the report estimates. It would be essential to use the lessons learned for the expected uncertainties - from those related to adjusting to new living conditions that will, for some time, be determined by the fear of the return of the coronavirus. Difficulties are also coming in dealing with existential and economic issues, but also unpacking the suitcases of old and lasting problems. And for this to be successful, it is necessary to build trust through more feelings and actions of the public interest authorities, openness to different opinions, inclusivity, and free institutions. That is why the urgent need is always, especially in times of pandemic, to stick to the consistent application of the law and the strengthening of democratic institutions and practices, the CGO-CCE report concludes.
Source: CGO-CCE
