Crisis HQ to consider 4 measures in maybe its most difficult session: Strictest, if worst happens

HQ members will debate a minimum of four measures

Members of the Crisis HQ for the fight against coronavirus have perhaps the most difficult session ahead of them. It should take place on Thursday and Friday, and HQ members are already mentioning what measures could be introduced due to the worsening of the epidemiological situation in the country.

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A proposal will be on the table to introduce mandatory negative PCR tests for those entering our country. It is possible they will decide to also include the antigenic test. It is realistic to expect that opening hours of hospitality industry establishments will be shortened, but also that cinemas and theaters will be closed. It is not ruled out that the number of people allowed to be indoors at the same time, which is now 30, will be further reduced.

These are just some of the measures that HQ members will discuss.

1. Introducing the test at the entrance to Serbia

As Professor Dr. Branislav Tiodorovic, epidemiologist and member of the Crisis HQ, told our portal yesterday, it is necessary to prevent the spread of the infection, but also to support the economy.

"I was ready at the last session to introduce PCR for entry, because everything is burning around us. The Serb Republic is introducing the strictest measures. Since Slovenia introduced a curfew, the question is when Croatia will do it too, then we have a problem here because of free entry (to the country). We should allow our people to communicate, we should support the economy, when there is no economy there is no health, but then we are facing a really difficult dilemma. I think that the introduction of the test would contribute to improving the situation," said Professor Dr. Tiodorovic, and added that th antigen test could also be used for this purpose:

"I expect the antigen test with great hope. It is very simple to perform, a throat and nose swab is taken, and the results are obtained in half an hour. It's important to do it on the third to fifth day after being in contact with an infected person."

2. Shorter opening hours of hospitality establishments

It is expected that opening hours of hospitality establishments will be shortened, which can now stay open until 11 pm and where the number of people is limited to 30.

"By shortening opening hours of hospitality establishments, the virus is not eliminated, but the risk of transmission is reduced," said Professor Dr. Tiodorovic.

The media are speculating that opening hours of hospitality establishments could be shortened from 11 pm to 8 pm.

Immunologist Srdja Jankovic, another a member of the HQ, also said that the Crisis HQ would consider the possibility of introducing two new measures in the coming period.

"These are obligatory PCR testing for entering Serbia and shortening opening hours of establishments, but adopting measures that are then not implemented will not help. Some measures have not been implemented, they did not understand the danger... When the situation is dynamic, the course of the epidemic itself is more important than some number that would be alarming. We see that the course is not good and we want to 'turn the river' into another course, to a level that will be acceptable," Jankovic told RTS this morning.

3. Temporary closing of cinemas and theaters

The professor also said that we should perhaps think about closing cinemas and theaters.

"If it continues like this from one day to the next we might have to assess whether it's important to close cinemas and theaters for a while, a week would be enough to cut the wave," he told us.

4. Fewer people in enclosed spaces

As we have learned, it is not ruled out that the number of people allowed indoors at the same time will be reduced. According to our source from the HQ, it is easy to reduce that number, but we still need to think about the country's economy.

"This possibility exists, and it's possible that it will be introduced only in those cities where the situation is currently the worst," said our source from the HQ.

This morning, Dr. Predrag Kon also told TV Pink that tightening of measures is being considered. He said that it is clear that one cannot sit idly if the number of infected people increases.

Curfew only if we have 500 per 100,000 in 14 days

One of the most severe measures is curfew, but there are no indications that this could happen now. As Professor Dr. Tiodorovic said, curfew would be introduced only if we had 500 infected people per 100,000 inhabitants in the space of two weeks, and now, we have a little under 50. He hopes that the 500 number will not be reached, and explains that even if that happens, curfew will not be introduced throughout the country, but only locally, in hotspots:

"The proposal is to use stricter measures in those areas where the situation with the epidemic is obviously slipping out of control, and it is because measures are massively ignored. Curfew and restrictions do not have to be imposed in the whole of Serbia, but they must be in certain areas that are endangered. We need to be aware that we need to be organized, and consciously prepare for everything that will happen with the arrival of cold weather. I think we can do that. We have experience."

Schools and kindergartens will work as usual

"It can be concluded that this model that we have applied in schools and kindergartens works well. For now, there is a very slight increase in positive children. These are most often children whose parents are positive. It's very rare for them to get sick. The model is that if there are two related positive cases in one classroom, classes go online, or if the number of infected people in a school exceeds 30 percent, then it switches to distance learning, although the model says half," recalled Professor Dr. Tiodorovic.

(Telegraf.rs)