July 1, 2020 - 28 new COVID-19 patients in Montenegro, 249 active cases
In the last 24 hours, the Institute of Public Health laboratories completed the analysis of 190 samples for the new coronavirus, among which 28 results were positive. These are patients from Gusinje (12), Podgorica (10), Bar (4), Cetinje, and Bijelo Polje 1 each.
Of the 28 newly discovered, 18 were contacts of previously confirmed cases, while in ten patients the source of the infection is as yet unknown.
Active COVID-19 cases by municipalities:
Thirty-nine COVID-19 patients in hospitals
"There are 14 patients in the Clinical Center. Two of them are in critical condition. Seven patients are in Bar hospital. There are 18 patients in Berane, 2 of whom are in critical condition. This data should be a warning. Compared to the same day in the previous wave of infection, the number of patients is much higher now, and transmission is faster," says Dr. Eraković. He pointed out that the healthcare system is fully prepared.
Borders with Serbia to be open when conditions allow, set of measures for tourists prepared
Director of the Institute for Public Health, Dr. Boban Mugoša, warned that measures to curb the COVID-19 spread "must be obeyed."
"Persons in self-isolation must stay in isolation. We have provided so many recommendations, instructions, orders. If we adhere to that, our response to the infection will be effective. We are opening in line with European standards. Some European countries have not opened their borders to us, and that's fine, they can do whatever they think is correct. I was asked why we haven't opened borders to Serbia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina. The answer is clear- every country assesses its capacities, its system, and how many tourists are allowed to come from every individual country," Dr. Mugoša said.
Dr. Mugoša recalled that events that carry a high epidemic risk had been banned. "Due to events that represented an epidemic explosion, we had to take such measures," Dr. Mugoša says. For now, sporting events will be banned.
Dr. Mugoša recalled they had prepared a set of measures for tourists who come to visit Montenegro. "Software to which a tourist will be connected will allow us to track them when they arrive in our country," he pointed out.
Speaking about measures, he said that health comes first. "We have two forms of risk - contagious disease and poverty. The lockdown we had previously cannot be applied anywhere. Under the present circumstances, we are using effective and well-planned measures and these will produce results only if we adhere to them, "Dr. Mugoša pointed out.
Borders of not all EU countries are open for the citizens of Montenegro
Although the EU Council decided yesterday to open the borders for the citizens of 14 countries outside the Union, each of the member states was allowed to decide on the issue independently. Austria remains closed to citizens of the Western Balkans, while Germany has decided to exclude four countries from the EU list, including Serbia.
Austrian Foreign Minister Alexandar Schallenberg (OVP) said today that they were worried about the first steps towards opening borders to the Western Balkans and that the planned opening of borders was being withdrawn for Serbia, Montenegro, BiH, Kosovo, Albania, and Northern Macedonia. He also advised Austrian citizens not to travel to these countries and issued the highest warning, urging them to leave these countries if they had already arrived.
From today, the citizens of Montenegro can go to Germany, the citizens of Serbia cannot
Germany announced today that it is easing the restrictions for the arrival of passengers from 11 countries that are not members of the European Union (EU), including Montenegro, the Associated Press agency reported.
Yesterday, the EU Council adopted recommendations on the gradual opening of EU borders for citizens of 14 countries from July 1, including Montenegro and Serbia. Still, Germany did not accept the complete list.
Montenegro remained on the list, whereas Serbia, Algeria, Morocco, and Rwanda were left out.
Sources: Institute of Public Health, Government of Montenegro, republicworld.com
