Minister: Serbia can't be isolated in 21st century, won't be terrible if coronavirus case appears

Health Minister Zlatibor Loncar said today that in the 21st century it's not possible to isolate Serbia from everything, but that it won't be alarming if a patient suffering from the new coronavirus appears in our country.

He stressed that it was important to respond properly.

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According to him, the situation is monitored on a daily basis, information is exchanged with the World Health Organization, with colleagues in the region and from around the world, while people arriving from China are constantly monitored. They are given recommendations on how to behave.

"We have taken all measures to prevent this, but it's not possible to isolate Serbia from everything in the 21st century. It's not alarming if a patient appears in Serbia as well, it's important that he react properly," Loncar told TV Pink.

He urged citizens not to listen to various rumors but to follow official information.

He said that according to China and the WHO, the situation with the new coronavirus is "under control to a degree."

"That doesn't mean the virus will stop today, that it will no longer spread, but that it will not spread massively, which could lead to much greater consequences," Loncar stressed.

Photo: Tanjug/AP

He recalled that 68 people outside of China have been infected with the new coronavirus so far, and that the number is expected to continue to increase in the next ten days. The problem with the new coronavirus is that not enough is known about it yet, it's not known how it is transmitted, there are no definite parameters around the incubation period. The minister said that the situation would be different if these parameters were known and that one could then predict exactly in which direction the virus would go.

Loncar also reminds that there is no vaccine for the new coronavirus. Serbia, he said, in the past used top experts who dealt with similar problems and created vaccines. Domestic experts, he said, are ready to help colleagues in China produce a vaccine for the virus as soon as possible.

Photo: Tanjug/AP

According to the minister, he will today receive complete data that he will present to President Aleksandar Vucic, who is in personal contact with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"We can offer some professional help thanks to our people who already have experience and who made vaccines for other viruses," Loncar concluded.

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(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)