Those who were in contact with Subotica man infected with coronavirus won't go to school or work

The minister addressed the media at the Palace of Serbia on the occasion of the discovery of the first case of a coronavirus infection in our country

Serbian Minister of Health Zlatibor Loncar confirmed at today's news conference that we have the first confirmed case of coronavirus in Serbia. The disease was confirmed in a 43-year-old man from Subotica, who is in isolation in a hospital there.

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"We promised to be extremely transparent. The thing we were expecting happened, and it was realistic to happen. It was literally a matter of hours when it would. We have the first positive case of coronavirus. It's a man who is 43 years old. Most importantly, he is feeling well, currently has no problems. He visited Budapest several times. His sister lives there. She had respiratory problems, fever and all those signs that were similar to coronavirus," Loncar said.

When he returned from Budapest, the first person in Serbia to get coronavirus felt poorly, and contacted the doctors himself.

"He was responsible, isolated himself, sent his children to a village, stayed at home only with his wife. Coronavirus was immediately suspected, the test was done during the night, and literally an hour ago the results arrived. He is in isolation in a hospital in Subotica. Samples have been taken from all persons in contact with him and from his family.  We expect those results during the day. Both his wife and his children are feeling well," the health minister said.

He once again thanked all services for a job well done and pointed out that there is no room for panic. He made an appeal, especially on men older than 75, not to stay in crowded closed spaces.

"It was a matter of hours when it would happen, it's unrealistic to think that there is some country without coronavirus. We will do all we can to make what is available anywhere in the world available to all our patients. I repeat, there is no room to panic, let's move on, cautiously and follow the advice of the competent authorities that has already been issued," said Loncar.

Acting Chief of the Unit for Infectious Diseases at the City Institute for Public Health in Belgrade Dr. Predrag Kon, an epidemiologist, said it was very important that we have the first case.

"This is a new situation, but fully expected. It's something we did not expect. We thought it would happen in Belgrade. This means that the system works. That patient reported the problems himself. Coronavirus was suspected despite COVID-19 not having been previously diagnosed in Hungary, but it was suspected because there was suspicious contact, so it was investigated. After that, everything was done according to our procedures," said Kon.

He added that in this situation we have now will see far greater involvement of epidemiological services.

"People who have been in contact with him will be interviewed in detail and monitored. Such persons will not be able to go to school, or to work," Dr. Kon pointed out.

Finally, he said the message was this:

"Let's go on with our lives, as before, there is no change. Some parts of the health care system will be severely burdened. In this case, we do not have such a huge number because the patient reported himself and is now isolated - but if this was a younger man with more social engagement, there would very much so be more work.

We are monitoring for emergence of new cases of the disease in the world and for the time being, as far as I can see the thing is under control. There is also the need to think about the treatment," said Kon.

Former director of the Belgrade Clinic for Infectious Diseases Clinic Mijomir Pelemis also said that this was something we expected.

"This is proof that the health system is functioning and that there is awareness among citizens. This is also the result of the work of everyone, and especially the working group that has been working for months. What is very important is that our first patient was discovered in time, he is not in a serious condition, it will not lead to any serious condition and panic, neither among citizens, nor among health care workers, because it is much easier when you have a patient whose condition is not serious," explained Pelemis.

Taking questions from journalists, Loncar said that all scenarios have been worked out. He also noted that the patient no longer has a fever, and that regardless of the fact that members of his family have no symptoms, they are treated as if they do.

"There had been stories by irresponsible people that we would not be able to care for patients anywhere except in the Clinic for Infectious Diseases in Belgrade. You have a patient who was discovered and is being treated in Subotica. All plans for treatment have been worked out for Belgrade and other towns. This patient is doing absolutely well. He had no temperature this morning. His family does not have any symptoms, but we treat them as if they do," the minister added.

Loncar also said that work is being done to find the best therapy that has yielded results in patients.

"I assure the citizens that they can be calm in this sense and that complicated cases will receive therapy that has yielded results for those who had the same or similar problems," said the minister of health.

He noted that Serbia is a serious country that can solve problems. This is a thing, he says, to which we will respond, which will pass, while life must go on.

VIDEO: Kon: It's important we've discovered the first coronavirus case

(Telegraf.rs)