July 16, 2020 - In Montenegro, the number of people infected with COVID-19 continues to grow. In the last 24 hours, the Institute of Public Health analyzed 477 samples for coronavirus, of which 60 were new COVID-19 cases. One patient died at the General Hospital in Berane, and the total number of deaths since the beginning of the new wave of the epidemic in mid - June is 17. Taking into account the deceased and recovered, the number of active COVID19 cases in Montenegro is currently 1582.
One imported case was also registered, and the individual in question received laboratory testing results during self-isolation, due to a delay resulting from sampling abroad.
The new patients are from Podgorica 24, Nikšić 12, Tivat 6, Bar 5, Bijelo Polje 4, Kotor 3, Cetinje, Rožaje and Herceg Novi 2 each, Žabljak 1.
A set of counter-COVID-19 measures for Podgorica has been adopted
The National Coordination Body for Infectious Diseases (NKT), considering the epidemiological situation in Podgorica, gave its consent to the Order to take temporary measures to prevent the further spread of new coronavirus.
The counter- COVID-19 measures refer to the area of the Capital, are temporary and will be applied for the next seven days:
1) gatherings of up to 40 people are permitted in open public places, and in closed spaces up to 20 persons are allowed, with the obligation to respect a physical distance of at least two meters and wear protective masks
2) mandatory use of protective face coverings indoors and outdoors, including for children over seven. This obligation does not apply to residential buildings;
3) It is the responsibility of companies, other legal entities, and entrepreneurs who perform catering activities in catering facilities (restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, hotel restaurants, and similar catering facilities) to organize their work in such a way that:
- a maximum of two guests sit at any one table inside the catering facility, or four guests on the terrace/garden of the facility,
- they discontinue any self-service or bar service options,
- they provide a distance of at least two meters between the tables, following the recommendations of the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro (IPH),
- they provide regular maintenance of hygiene and disinfection of common areas, furniture, equipment, etc., following the recommendations of the IPH;
4) The obligation of companies and entrepreneurs who provide services in fitness centers and gyms is to organize work in such a way that only one person per ten square meters can stay in the facility at a time, and no more than 20 people in total, with the obligation to respect the physical distance from at least two meters between service users and to ensure compliance with other measures, following the instructions of the Institute;
5) Protective masks are compulsory for employees and passengers on public transport (bus, van, auto-taxi), as well as during transport of employees by vehicles for own needs, including drivers and passengers in a passenger motor vehicle (except for members of a joint family household); other measures are also applicable, on the instructions of the IPH.
The NKT recommends to all religious communities that religious rites be performed across the country without the presence of the public.
The NKT called for joint action in the fight against the spread of coronavirus, protection of citizens' health, and the preservation of jobs and the economy.
The closure of Podgorica will be the final measure that the NKT will propose if the epidemiological situation worsens, said the Head of the Department for the Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases at the Institute of Public Health (IPH), Sanja Medenica.
Montenegro is no longer on the EU List of countries from which entry is allowed
The Council of the European Union has adopted a list of countries whose citizens are allowed to travel to the EU. Montenegro is not on that list.
The list includes Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, and Uruguay.
The list will be revised every two weeks. A rule of reciprocity applies to China and Chinese citizens.
Earlier today, Italy announced the decision to change the entry regime for passengers coming from Montenegro due to the epidemiological situation.
Italy has added Montenegro to the list of high-risk countries regarding coronavirus, said Italian Minister of Health Roberto Speranza.
"I have signed a new order which adds Serbia, Montenegro, and Kosovo to the list of countries at risk," Speranza said on Facebook.
Over 6 million euros and 75 thousand dollars in NKT account
The 13th Report of the Operational Headquarters for Donation Management on the balance and payments from the account as of July 16, 2020 has been adopted."Since the opening of the account on March 19, 8,052,229.22 euros and 75,971.72 dollars have been paid from the country and abroad. In the aforementioned period, and by the donors' indications, the recommendations of the Crisis Medical Staff, and the Institute of Public Health, 1,758,869.13 euros were paid from the account. Consequently, on July 16, 2020, at 9:00 AM, the balance of the NKT account amounts to EUR 6,293,360.09 and USD 75,971.72, "they concluded in the statement.
No new measures to support the economy yet
Eighty-two days after adopting the second package of measures to support both society and the economy, the government has not yet announced the third package that the economy requested "as soon as possible."
One of the most recent government announcements on the long-awaited COVID economic stimulus package arrived a month ago. The coordinator for the third package of measures and Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy Milutin Simovic said they were preparing it and would present it to the public in no later than two weeks' time.
