July 13, 2020 - Montenegro reported today sixty-six new COVID-19 cases. These are patients from Podgorica 19, Berana 10, Niksic 9, Rozaje 7, Cetinje 6, Pljevlja 5, Bar 3, Ulcinj 2, Budva 2, Bijelo Polje 2, Herceg Novi 1.

During the day, a death from COVID-19 was laboratory-confirmed in a patient treated at the General Hospital in Berane.

Laboratory analyzes of three more deaths suspected of being caused by a new coronavirus infection are underway.

The total number of confirmed deaths from COVID-19 since the beginning of June is 15.

Recovery was confirmed in two more cases.

Since the beginning of June, the total number of registered cases is 963, with 15 confirmed deaths, and currently, 15 recovered. The number of presently active COVID-19 cases is 933.

The total number tested in the laboratories of the Institute is 24,972 or 396.4 per 100,000

85 COVID-19 patients undergoing hospital treatment

In Montenegro, 85 patients have been hospitalized with COVID-19, 30 in KCCG, Bar 11, Nikšić 13, and Berane 31. The hospitalization rate for the number of patients is about eight percent, and bed occupancy is 17 percent, the Assistant Director of the Clinical Center of Montenegro, Nemanja Radojevic, stated at the NKT press conference.

A total of 29 health workers are infected with the new coronavirus; nine doctors, 18 medical technicians, and two non-medical workers, Radojevic said, adding that 144 health workers are in self-isolation.

20 percent of the COVID-19 tests sent to Germany have returned positive results

Mugoša: We have to change our behavior

It is worrying that over 20 percent are positive, which means that there will be a further increase, which will affect how we continue to treat the epidemic, said the Director of the Institute of Public Health.

He asked everyone to accept the change in behavior.

"This virus has caused enormous problems worldwide, brought many economies to collapse, and led to a large number of deaths. With that in mind, we were very successful in the first wave, perhaps one of the most successful countries, "Mugoša said.

He also said that only the simplest is required of citizens.

"So that's the only way to fight the infection. We must take care of physical and social distance to reduce the number of contacts to a minimum. We need to reduce socializing to family.

We repeat that we must clean our hands, and we must do that more often and more carefully. It is essential to wear masks both where it is prescribed and where it is not. These are all challenges that require behavior change. "Others cannot solve everything for us," Mugoša said.

Contact COVID-19 center in Budva

Since the beginning of the second wave of the coronavirus epidemic, 35 cases have been registered in Budva. During the weekend, 31 people were tested. The COVID ambulance started working again every day from 7 am to 8 pm, said Marija Mališić, Ph.D. of the Budva Health Center, in "Boje Jutra" on TV Vijesti.

The doctor said that all people who have symptoms of the coronavirus are referred to the COVID clinic, located in the same building as the Health Center, but with a separate entrance.

The doctor said that anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 should call the COVID clinic on 069 / 303-367.

July 13, 2020 - Today, Montenegro celebrates the Statehood Day, remembering the two most important dates in its history - on this day in 1878, the Berlin Congress recognized its independence. On July 13, 1941, the people of Montenegro led the peoples of Europe to resist fascism.

"O smallest of nations, the hard rock of a harder country, the throne of freedom, you great Montenegro," sang the English poet Alfred Tennyson. All that strength and freedom of a small - big nation seems to live forever in one date - July 13.

While number 13 is associated with the superstition that brings bad luck, it is unique for Montenegro - on that day in Berlin's Razeville Palace, in 1878, Montenegro's independence was recognized, and 63 years later the first nationwide uprising broke out in enslaved Europe.

Little Montenegro deserved to be written about by the London Times and The New York Times. The French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre said that the July 13 Uprising is one of the greatest achievements of the libertarian tradition of the 20th century, and his compatriot, former president Francois Mitterrand, that it was the most significant event of World War II.

And one of the dates on which a consensus was reached mainly in Montenegro -that the July 13 Uprising is an event of the most significant national pride.

"July 13 meant a lot to the people in 1941. Not only to us, but to everyone in Europe. While there was Tito, there would be no other greatest statesman, nor was there before him, at least for me, but also for many, because that was the time when we were all friends, we were all one, and we did not see any divisions, we paid great attention to 13 July. Later, some meetings or ceremonies were held in the theater, which I did not attend because I was not part of the theater, but again that date is always marked ", Danilo Miljanic from Niksic, who turned one hundred this spring, told "Vijesti".

He remembers a lot, records a lot, and leaves some things, as he says, to silence. Although the people in Montenegro took up arms on July 13, Uncle Danilo says that he had already seen weapons some twenty days earlier.
"I enrolled in the Officer School in Bileća, and at the end of March, we were deployed in military units. They sent me to the third company in Risan and charged me with a machine gun. We waited for the war there, but we were told that an agreement had been made with the Germans. After the bombing of Yugoslavia, they sent us home. I asked for a rifle in exchange for the machine gun, but it wasn't there, so I left the machine gun because I couldn't carry it. "

Miljanic recalls the Ustasha massacre of the Serb people in Herzegovina in early June and says many survivors fled to Montenegro.

"Immediately, fifteen of us from Muževica went to the border, and there we found Miljanić from Dubočak and formed the Miljanić company, whose commander in the first days was Risto Mashutov. My father was with me too. The Miljanic company, together with the companies from Grahovo, Tupan, Golija, was in that part towards the border. There we heard that on July 13, there were armed conflicts, that the whole of Montenegro rose. We were already under arms then," Miljanic recalls of the first days of the war.

Milovan Djilas came to Montenegro after the extended session of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia (CPY), at which a decision was made to start an armed struggle. The people "reluctantly" accepted the idea, so instead of guerrilla actions, there were thirty thousand armed people, about 65 percent of the able-bodied population.

"Because of that uprising, the Italians had to withdraw six divisions from our side to appease Montenegro. The revolution lasted until mid-August when a strong Italian offensive suppressed it. It meant a lot that the whole nation stood up. The formation of the battalion began the following year, and in April, seven Montenegrin battalions were formed in the Niksić district, two in Velimlje and five in Niksić. July 13 meant a lot then, and it seems to me that it still does today," says the old man who was awarded the Medal for Courage for his success in the National Liberation War.

The President of the Association of Fighters of the People's Liberation War (UBNOR) and anti-fascist Nikšić, Slobodan Bato Mirjačić, said that July 13 was the brightest page in Montenegrin history because, on that day, Montenegrins rekindled their freedom.

"The platoons of the first Montenegrin insurgent rifles resounded in enslaved Europe. In a few days, most of Montenegro was liberated. It was the first popular uprising against the occupiers in Europe, an authentic Montenegrin event. Bearing in mind that the insurgents inflicted significant losses on the occupier and thwarted their political and military plans, the uprising was a unique phenomenon of the Second World War. It united the peculiarities and values ​​of Montenegrin history and preserved its libertarian continuity," Mirjacic points out.

He recalls that Jean-Paul Sartre said about the uprising: "The July 13 uprising in Montenegro can serve the pride of the peoples of Europe."
"The uprising loudly announced that Montenegro would play a much more important role in the People's Liberation War, and thus in Yugoslavia, than the one that would belong to it in terms of population and size of its territory. With its participation and the sacrifices it made during the Second World War, Montenegro paved the way for the equality of its people in the new Yugoslavia. "We must preserve the achievements of July 13, for which many lives were given, to preserve the achievements of anti-fascism and independence, while nurturing the multiethnic and multi-religious harmony of all citizens of Montenegro," Mirjacic said.

Radislav Stanisic, President of the Central Committee of the Yugoslav Communist Party of Montenegro, said that the Montenegrin people, led by the communists, responded with an uprising to the decision of the Montenegrin Parliament on July 12, when Italian fascists and separatists decided to declare independent Montenegro.

The next day, with shots fired at Italian strongholds in Čevo, Virpazar, Košćeli, Crmnica and other places throughout Montenegro, with the song 'Without a spring, there is no water, no life without freedom,' the Montenegrin people said with gunfire that only they could decide their fate, and not a handful of separatists led by Sekula Drljević. Montenegrin fighters fought equally for every inch of Yugoslavia, not distinguishing the Karavanke from Lovćen, nor Zagreb from Podgorica, so the blood shed of fallen soldiers obliges us to do everything to prevent the destruction of the achievements of the People's Liberation War and the socialist revolution. The communists remind us that the people who won freedom with blood and built the country with sweat do not need any dictators."

After the Second World War, the Montenegrin government adopted a special law establishing July 13 as a national holiday. On that day, ceremonial academies, lectures, cultural and sports events were held, while the state leadership of Montenegro would attend the central celebration of the Uprising Day. It was recorded that on July 13, 1946, ten thousand people were present in Podgorica, eight thousand in Nikšić, five thousand in Danilovgrad, and about ten thousand in six municipalities in the Durmitor region.

Along with these large numbers, it was celebrated in other cities of Montenegro.

The following year, on July 13, Josip Broz Tito came to the then Titograd, and in 1948, on that day, the Titograd-Nikšić railway was opened.
Since 2006, when Montenegro became independent, July 13 has been celebrated as Statehood Day.

The month of freedom in enslaved Europe
According to historical sources, the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia for Montenegro and Boka unanimously accepted the Central Committee's decision on the uprising, made on July 4 in Belgrade, on July 8 in Stijena Piperska, near Podgorica. In addition to Djilas, the meeting was attended by Bozo Ljumovic, Blazo Jovanovic, Radoje Dakic, Savo Brkovic, Budo Tomovic, Vido Uskokovic, Krsto Popivoda, and Perisa Vujosevic.

In Cetinje, on July 12, 1941, at the Petrovdan Parliament, the "Greens" decided to annul the Podgorica Assembly from 1918 and repeal the Constitution of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and all its institutions and declare the Independent State of Montenegro under the jurisdiction of fascist Italy.

In the early morning of July 13, the uprising began. Already on that day, Virpazar, Čevo, Rijeka Crnojevića, and parts of the coast from Miločer to Sutomore were liberated. Guerrilla fighting turned into a nationwide uprising on July 14, 15, and 16, historians say.

During July 15, Mojkovac, Bioče, Spuž, and Lijeva Rijeka were liberated, and a motorized battalion of the Italian division "Messina" was attacked near the village of Košćela, killing 70, wounding 110 and capturing 290 Italian soldiers.

Andrijevica was liberated on July 16, as were Bijelo Polje, Berane, Danilovgrad, Zabljak, Kolasin, Savnik, and Grahovo soon after.

One of the most significant battles was in Brajići, between Cetinje and Budva when a substantial Italian motorized column was attacked from an ambush - 220 Italians were thrown out of line, and insurgents had two dead and seven wounded.

A good part of Montenegro remained liberated until August 14, when significantly strengthened Italian troops quelled the uprising.

Translation of the text "July 13 lives, the achievements die out," Svetlana Mandić and Slavko Radulović, Vijesti

July 12, 2020 - The exhibition, held on Dvorski Square in Cetinje, is part of the annual programme organized by the royal capital on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the restoration of the Kingdom of Montenegro, and will run until September. The exhibition, entitled "Restoration of the Kingdom of Montenegro and the 1910 Jubilee Celebration" is being organized in cooperation with the State Archives of Montenegro, and the city's Tourist Board.

The exhibition includes more than 120 documents and photographs from the State Archives, which illustrate numerous events related to the jubilee ceremonies and the restoration of the Kingdom of Montenegro in 1910.

In 1910, on the day of the Feast of the Assumption, Montenegro was proclaimed a kingdom, and Prince Nikola was proclaimed King. At the ceremony that was organized at that time, half a century of the reign of King Nikola and the golden wedding of the royal couple were also celebrated.

Information for the exhibition states that the jubilee of 1910, according to many experts, is one of the most significant events in the history of Montenegro.

In the media of that time, both throughout Europe and on other continents, much was written about the fearless nature of the Montenegrin people "who have been fiercely guarding freedom in the Balkans for centuries."

The highest-ranking officials in European public life - emperors, kings, prime ministers, ministers, writers, artists and scientists - express their recognition and admiration for the Montenegrin people and their sovereign in many ways, the information reads.

The official opening ceremony of the exhibition, with guests present, was cancelled due to the worsening epidemiological situation linked to coronavirus.

July 12, 2020 - Since the beginning of June, the total number of registered COVID-19 cases in Montenegro is 897, with 14 confirmed deaths and 13 recovered patients. The number of currently active cases is 870.

On Saturday, July 11, the Institute of Public Health laboratories registered 87 new cases, which is the most significant daily number of new COVID-19 cases in Montenegro since the first cases were recorded on March 17. The Institute announced today that the number of patients has increased by another 57.

"During the day, three more deaths were reported (two at the General Hospital in Berane and one at the Clinical Center of Montenegro). The suspected cause of death was the new coronavirus infection. Since the beginning of June, the total number of confirmed deaths from COVID-19 remains 14," announced the Institute of Public Health. By municipality, the number of fatalities is
Rožaje 6, Podgorica, Berane, Bijelo Polje, Bar, Plav, Ulcinj, Gusinje and Petnjica 1.

Active COVID-19 cases by municipality:

Podgorica 339
Rozaje 153
Bijelo Polje 68
Berane 65
Budva 35
Pljevlja 34
Niksic 31
Cetinje 26
Bar 26
Tivat 18
Gusinje 17
Kotor 13
Ulcinj 12
Petnjica 11
Herceg Novi 10
Danilovgrad 9
Andrijevica 1
Tuzi 1
Žabljak 1

Rakocevic: It is challenging to control the spread of COVID-19 with open border

"The borders were closed, we had limited movement, many people worked from home, so we had little contact, and in that way, the possibility of transmitting the infection was reduced. Now, with open borders, with our people traveling abroad, with the arrival of foreign guests, and a free economy, it is complicated, and it is a challenge for epidemiologists and the entire health system to fight this epidemic because people make numerous contacts. That way, the virus spreads in the population," explained Rakočević.

She pointed out that the virus is characterized by the fact that its composition is continuously changing.

"There have been some changes in the original virus, originating from China. We do not yet own data for our area, or that there have been any changes. The symptoms are the same as the clinical picture. We have people with milder symptoms and those with a more severe clinical picture. Of course, we have a share of asymptomatic people, who are of special epidemiological significance, because they do not know they have an infection. It is wider in the population," Rakocevic explained.

Stricter measures for private flights from Serbia

Due to the extremely complex epidemiological situation in Serbia, the National Coordination Body for Infectious Diseases decided to tighten the conditions for entry into Montenegro of persons from Serbia non-commercial and occasional air traffic (so-called general aviation).

"Upon entering Montenegro, passengers and aircraft crew must have a negative PCR test result for SARS-CoV-2 not older than 72 hours, issued by a registered laboratory, following the recommendations of the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro," the Government explained.

Also, passengers and crew, if staying in Montenegro, must have a reservation in hotel accommodation.

"The aircraft operator must submit a request for approval of the flight to the operator of the airport where he plans to land, which, in addition to regular information, must contain the name and surname of the passenger and crew, if staying in Montenegro, 48 hours before the planned arrival. The airport operator reserves the right to approve or reject the flight," states the Government.

The situation with COVID-19 in Montenegro and the region

In the region, the most significant number of active patients per 100 thousand inhabitants is registered in Northern Macedonia, followed by Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

In Northern Macedonia, 170 active cases per 100 thousand inhabitants were registered, in Montenegro 138, and BiH 105.
In fourth place is Serbia, with 59 active patients per 100 thousand inhabitants, followed by Albania with 49, Croatia with 27 and Slovenia with 13 active patients per 100 thousand inhabitants.

In Serbia, the number of actively ill per 100 thousand inhabitants is, in fact, the number of persons hospitalized per 100 thousand.

In the region, the largest number of people infected with coronavirus with regard to the number of inhabitants is being registered in Northern Macedonia, with Serbia in second place, and in third place Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In Northern Macedonia, 3.9 thousand infected people per million inhabitants were registered, in Serbia 2,630, and BiH 1,974.

In fourth place is Montenegro, with 1,848 infected per million inhabitants, followed by Albania with 1,203, Croatia 912, and Slovenia, with 858 infected per million inhabitants.

The number of infected people is expressed per million inhabitants for a better comparison.

Concerning the number of infections, the highest mortality rate is in Slovenia, 6.03 percent, Northern Macedonia 4.7 percent, Croatia with 3.2 percent, and BiH with three percent.

Albania's death rate is 2.68 percent, in Serbia 2.14 percent, and in Montenegro, which is 1.88 percent.

The highest number tested per one million inhabitants is in Serbia, 70,385 per million inhabitants, Slovenia is in second place with 55,369, and Montenegro is in third place with 38,840.

In fourth place is Northern Macedonia, with 37,096 tested per million inhabitants, followed by BiH with 31,175 and Croatia, with 22,934 tested per million inhabitants.

In Montenegro, registered by municipality, the most significant number of active cases per ten thousand inhabitants is in Gusinje. In second place is Rožaje, and in third place is Petnjica.

In Gusinje, 101.61 active cases per ten thousand inhabitants were registered, in Rožaje 66.63 and Petnjica 20.07.

In Berane, 19.13 active cases per ten thousand inhabitants were registered, in Podgorica 18.23, Budva 18.21, Cetinje 15.61, Bijelo Polje 14.77, Tivat 12.83.

In Pljevlja, 11.04 active cases per ten thousand inhabitants were registered, in Bar 6.18, Ulcinj 6.02, Kotor 5.75, Danilovgrad 4.87, Nikšić 4.28, Herceg Novi 3.24, Tuzi 2.11, and Andrijevici 1.97.
The total number of patients with COVID 19 in Montenegro since the beginning of the outbreak is 1,221; 870 cases remain active.

July 12, 2020 - As part of the cultural-educational project "Roads of Boka Croats", the exhibition "Partenza", by Croatian artist Renata Poljak, inspired by her family history, was opened on Friday at the Cultural Centre "Nikola Đurković" in Kotor.

The project "Roads of Boka Croats" is held under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović and the President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović.

The central focus of the exhibition is the film of the same name, "about expecting, waiting for a person who is to arrive over the seas", based on the story of the artist's great-grandfather who, due to poverty, left for Punta Arenas in Chile in the early 19th century, a journey which was to prove fatal, leaving her great-grandmother alone with two children.

As is made clear, this film is a universal story about waiting, about women who stayed and men who left, and at the very end, when it changes from black and white to colour, a parallel is drawn with the present.

The artist says that personal experience is always a part of her art projects that speak of the wider social picture; in that way the audience can more easily identify and feel true emotion. Through "Partenza", which means departure in Italian, she wanted to talk about the current migrant crisis, where thousands of people dying at sea.

"At that time, as today, it was very topical and infinitely tragic. After all the wars and everything we have survived, I was personally deeply affected by human suffering, migration, the huge number of people drowning and the Mediterranean, which has truly become a mass grave," said Poljak.

In addition to the video "Partenza", which is the beginning of the film trilogy, a series of photographs has been produced, and collages created, during the shooting. Photographer Dinka Radonić produced a set of photographs from which Poljak made collages.

The author considers the photographs to be particularly important "because when the audience leaves the hall, which is darkened, they still remain immersed in the emotion of the film, and the photographic collages complete the exhibition as a whole".

Renata Poljak was born in Split in 1974, where she graduated from the School of Fine Arts, and received her Master of Arts Degree from the École Régionale des Beaux-Arts in Nantes.

For her work, she received the Gold Black Box Awards at the Black Box Festival in Berlin (2006) and the T-HT Art Award (2012). She has exhibited in Croatia, but also in major world art centres such as Paris, Tokyo and New York.

Her Montenegrin exhibition will be open until July 20th.

July 12, 2020 - Although music fans are used to the eleven-day festival of classical music starting in the second week of July, the International Music Days Festival has been postponed to the autumn, the festival's organizing team and producer “Herceg Fest” announced.

The event’s Board, headed by President Milena Lučić and Artistic Director, pianist Boris Kraljević, made the timely proposal to the sponsors to move the festival from summer to autumn, given the epidemiological situation across the country, region and indeed world. The proposal was met with support from the representatives of the Municipality of Herceg Novi - the general sponsor of the festival - headed by Mayor Stevan Katić, as well as the Ministry of Culture of Montenegro, the announcement states.

The numerous faithful fans of the Herceg Novi Music Festival will be given further information on a new date, participants, and the programme of the festival as soon as it is available. A major part of the programming will be dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the birth of the great Ludwig Van Beethoven.

July 12, 2020 - "I'll tell you a story" is the title of the exhibition of paintings by Hana Mirkov, which opened last weekend in the exhibition space of the Tivat Municipal Museum and Gallery.

"Hana's specific expression in her paintings is recognizable not only in this city or this country, but also abroad. Each of Hana's works is a separate illustration of an event, a legend, a specific part of the city, a tradition, a situation or a universal value. According to the motifs, like the scenography, that she places on the canvas, even those who do not know the legend, story or sights of a city, can get to know it through her paintings. Of course, Hana's ability to sensitively choose themes and motifs leaves a really positive impression on all those who view her work,” stated the Director of the Municipal Museum and Gallery Jelena Bošković, on the occasion of the opening of the exhibition.

She highlighted that the inspiration for 25 exhibited works in acrylic, pencil, and combined technique - pencil, ink and pen, came to Hana with the reading of the book "Antique Bassoon" in which well-known Tivat journalist and publicist Mašo Čekić draws together numerous stories and interesting legends from the history of the Bay of Kotor and the former way of life of its inhabitants.

“The story I told in these works is colourful, removed from the expected context, it makes us who we are and inspires our lives with new energy. This amazing book with wonderful stories strongly encouraged me to create because while reading, the pictures came to me on their own and I simply had to produce them as I did,” said the artist, Hana Mirkov.

Photo - Hana Mirkov

Mirkov was born in Split in 1989. She finished art high school in Cetinje in 2008, from where she graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts. She continued her education at the Accademia di belle arti di Bari, Italy. She lives and works in Tivat. She has participated in numerous collective and solo exhibitions, both in the country and abroad, as well as dozens of artists’ colonies in Montenegro and Serbia. She has been a member of the Association of Fine Artists of Montenegro since 2012.

July 10, 2020 - Laboratories of the Institute of Public Health analyzed 468 samples, of which 58 were positive for COVID-19. These are patients from Rožaje 19, Berane 14, Podgorica 13, Bar 5, Cetinje 3, Kotor 2, Bijelo Polje 1, and Nikšić 1. There are currently 733 active cases in Montenegro.

"During the day, two deaths were reported at the General Hospital in Berane. We are still awaiting the results of laboratory analyses for both deceased persons. Until the arrival of the laboratory certificate, the total number of confirmed deaths since the beginning of June from COVID-19 remains ten. In the last 24 hours, five patients have recovered, "said the Institute of Public Health.

The number of active COVID-19 cases by municipalities:

Highlights from the press conference of the National Coordination Body

Director of the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro (IJZCG) and member of the National Coordination Body for Infectious Diseases (NKT) Boban Mugoša said that since the beginning of June the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus infection is 753, with ten deaths and 10 recovered COVID-19 patients. There are currently 733 active cases in Montenegro.

"We have a serious situation with a large number of patients and an infection spreading," Mugoša pointed out at the NKT press conference.

He said that such a situation was expected after the epidemiological "calm."

"It is complicated to control the spread of the infection, but we are making efforts. All this is accompanied by taking additional measures," Mugoša said.

According to Mugoša, the Institute of Public Health conducts between 400 and 600 COVID-19 tests a day.

"If we compare it to a larger country, such as Germany, it would be like 58,000 people a day being tested in that country, which has a population of 80 million," he said.

Mugoša said that a mask must be worn, and social distance must be respected.

"We can no longer socialize as we used to without being at risk. We can, but we take the risk. What we have now in Montenegro shows either a lack of understanding or a refusal to accept such a situation. If you have people who give you 140 close contacts, then that says enough about how much they are wrong in their beliefs or did not understand what this is about," said the director of IJZCG.

He said it was difficult to close the country entirely again, and asked the media to support raising collective awareness of the epidemiological situation.

The Director of the Internal Clinic of the Clinical Center of Montenegro (KCCG) and a member of the KCCG Crisis Team, Sreten Kavarić, said that out of 100 infected, 80 can be treated at home or in self-isolation.

"Fifty percent of positive coronavirus cases have no symptoms," Kavarić said.

He said that there are 79 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in four hospitals in Montenegro; with 25 patients in KCCG. In Bar, 13 patients are being treated, in Berane 33, of which four are in a life-threatening condition, while in Nikšić, there are eight patients, two of whom are deteriorating, and the rest are in stable condition.

Kavarić said that four doctors, nurses, and medical technicians in KCCG were infected, that they were in good condition, and that they were being treated at home.

When it comes to testing, Mugoša said that IPH has a 27-member team of experts working on analyses and that the daily number of tests for COVID-19 has increased tenfold.

He said that 2,000 tests were currently awaiting analysis, and these had been sent to Germany. "Control of the epidemic does not depend on tests. It depends on what we have as our plan. That is, everyone who is suspected of having the virus should be at home,  and every contact person should be at home," Mugoša said.

Asked to comment on whether the inhabitants of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) can enter Montenegro with a negative serological test or only with PCR, Mugoša said that the conditions for that country do not differ from others.

"As for the countries that are on the green list, their inhabitants can enter freely. The yellow list includes countries whose residents must do a PCR, ELISA, or ECLIA test, which detects antibodies to antigens. These tests are reliable; they have specific characteristics. In most countries, you cannot get a PCR test for days, "stated Mugoša.
Speaking about quarantines, Mugoša said that the need for them still exists.

"I said that the virus would return to Montenegro at some point. "While the pandemic was erupting in Europe and the surrounding areas, with the borders closed, that was completely expected," Mugoša said.

He said that he hoped that soon, with the citizens' efforts and understanding, the need for quarantines would decrease.

According to him, quarantine and self-isolation last 14 days, and in some cases, 21 days, and that refers to those who are being treated at home, to make sure that they will be completely healthy.

Violation of self-isolation is punishable by imprisonment

Whoever endangers someone's health by violating self-isolation is threatened with a sentence of one to eight years in prison, and whoever causes someone's death, by two to 12 years imprisonment.

The announcement was made last night by the National Coordination Body (NKT) for Infectious Diseases.

"Respect measures, protect health - both your own and others'," reads the Twitter message, published on the order of the Government of Montenegro.

New protocol on the treatment of patients and contacts of COVID-19 patients

The Institute of Public Health has adopted a new protocol to treat patients and contacts of COVID-19 patients.

Contacts of sick people are immediately placed in self-isolation - quarantine for 21 days, according to the decision of the inspection.
Sampling is performed if the contact has developed symptoms during the period of self-isolation.

A negative result does not affect the duration/shortening of the self-isolation.

Re-sampling at the end of self-isolation/quarantine is performed only for persons who had symptoms and were negative on the first test.

Self-isolation ceases without testing after 21 days for persons who did not have any problems during the self-isolation.

For persons who had problems during self-isolation and in whom the first test was negative, the self-isolation ceases upon arrival of the second negative test result following 21 days of self-isolation.

National Coordinating Body: It is possible to organize elections

The National Coordination Body for Infectious Diseases (NKT) believes that it is possible to organize the entire upcoming election process while respecting all provisions of the Constitution and laws and the right of every citizen of Montenegro to vote and be elected. The NKT believes it is possible to organize the elections with the inviolable priority of preserving public health. NKT Chief, Milutin Simović spoke to this effect at today's meeting with representatives of the Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

"The key feature of the coronavirus pandemic is unpredictability. But we are monitoring the situation and successfully managing the crisis, which we will continue to do until election day. Public health and the health of every citizen is the most important goal, and all the measures we adopt are primarily related to that goal, "said the president of the NKT at a meeting with OSCE / ODIHR representatives Vladimir Mišev and Oleksiy Lichhovah.

The President of the NKT emphasized that in addition to the operational headquarters, which in its entirety involves thousands of people, for two days now, the NKT has been directly cooperating with the State Election Commission, the Agency for Prevention of Corruption and the civil sector.

The NKT President pointed out that the suggestions of the opposition parties were taken into account in the first phase of the epidemic.

"A high degree of inclusion, i.e., the involvement of all relevant institutions, has been the formula for success. At the sessions, arguments are discussed, and suggestions are given to the Ministry of Health, issuing orders and binding measures. This will be the case in the future, with our additional commitment to preserving every citizen's health - voters and the entire election administration, including observers, despite all the challenges. Our joint obligation is to create an environment for the free expression of the will of the citizens in the upcoming elections, "said Milutin Simović.

"It is necessary to manage the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic all over the world. Such a crisis can only be successfully managed by a government that gains legitimacy in the elections," the NCP president said at a meeting with OSCE/ODIHR representatives.

The meeting was also attended by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Dragan Pejanović, and the Assistant of the Institute of Public Health, Dr. Senad Begić.

July 10, 2020 - Blue Flag coordinators in the Mediterranean region have gathered together during the Covid19 pandemic to raise environmental awareness. The Blue Flag, as with all programmes of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), leads to increased awareness among locals, local authorities, tourists and all users of beaches and marinas, so that they take a more active role.

Ten national Blue Flag operators have called on local communities, NGOs and the general public to join forces and contribute to Mediterranean Blue Flag Week, held in the second week of July. Due to the pandemic this year, no beach cleaning activities will be organized, but an educational campaign will be held on social networks - #BlueFlagMedWeek -, according to Saša Karajović, the national coordinator of Blue Flag Montenegro.

Join us under the slogan "Caring for the sea that unites us!" Every day during the week, we will be dealing with one of the important issues in the Mediterranean; posts shared on social networks should be tagged #BlueFlagMedWeek.

Daily topics:

6th July – Microplastics 

7th July – Cigarette Butts

8th July – Covid Waste 

9th July – Biodiversity 

10th July – Health and Safety 

11th July – Floating Debris 

12th July – Environmental Education 

The photos used in the campaign were provided by the national Blue Flag and Young Eco-Reporters operators from ten Mediterranean countries.

The photo for the topic of microplastics was taken by Marija Kazimirova (Knightsbridge School, Tivat), for which she won second prize at the Young Eco-Reporters of Montenegro Competition in 2019.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS OF THE INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH REGARDING COVID-19