No need to stockpile flour, canned food; Ministry of Health will be reporting twice a day

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met today at noon with representatives of all health and other institutions involved in the fight against coronavirus.

The meeting was held in the building of the General Secretariat of the President of the Republic, after which President Vucic explicitly stated that there are no coronavirus cases in Serbia. Epidemiologist of the Belgrade Institute for Public Health Dr. Predrag Kon, Professor Branislav Tiodorovic, also an epidemiologist, former director of the Clinic for Infectious Diseases Dr. Mijomir Pelemis and pediatric pulmonologist Branimir Nestorovic also addressed the nation.

"We spoke with all these people and services involved in solving the coronavirus problem. Information number one is that there are no people infected with coronavirus in Serbia. I say this because we have an unbelievable campaign on social networks, false information that two people had died at the Infectious Diseases Clinic, and two more at KBC Bezanijska Kosa. Nobody has died. Not only do we not have any deaths, but nobody is infected. So, coronavirus does not exist in Serbia at the moment," said President Vucic.

Comprehensive prevention measures

He said that the meeting also touched on how to behave, what is happening in the world, how many countries are affected, what further measures need to be taken by us.

"Today we came up with and fully agreed on comprehensive prevention measures, comprehensive emergency response measures by all competent authorities in case of the occurrence of coronavirus. In other words, we anticipate everything down to the last detail. Starting with increasing the number of ambulance staff at border crossings not covered by ambulance teams. We will intensify this with our teams at the suggestion of Mr. Tiodorovic also towards Bulgaria and North Macedonia. So, we have prepared all our facilities, rooms, prepared them and continue to prepare them for potential patients. We have done all that is necessary to cure them. We've asked two companies in Serbia that manufacture protective equipment, especially face masks, to speed up their production. We won't have any problems. Panic is absolutely unnecessary," said Vucic.

The president stressed that we must preserve the country's economic strength. He also announced that tomorrow, Trade Minister Rasim Ljajic and Serbian Chamber of Commerce President Marko Cadez will talk to all suppliers and companies about the need that there be no panic.

No need to stockpile food

Vucic also stressed that there was no need to stockpile food.

"Please don't buy flour (to stockpile), because it will go to waste. Don't buy cans, it's unnecessary. We have as much (food) as you want, as much as you wish. No need to spend money, we just need to act rationally and keep our country safe from an outpouring of fake love," said Vucic.

He asked citizens to listen to government bodies, experts, rather than to rumors. He also spoke about the people seen wearing protective suits yesterday in Njegoseva Street in Belgrade.

"That's the procedure. A man called on the phone and said that he had been in areas where it's possible or where there was fear that he might have been in the company of infected people. That's why we sent people wearing such equipment. It turned out that he was not infected (with coronavirus) but had a lighter form of ordinary flu. So please don't panic. This is less dangerous than seasonal flu," Vucic said, asking the media not to be scaring their own people.

The state, he said, has taken this seriously. He pointed out that best experts attended the meeting today:

"We will not tell you that there is no danger, but we will not exaggerate that danger. The state is taking all necessary measures. People need to know that."

Ministry of Health to issue reports at 8 am and at 6 pm

He announced that the Ministry of Health will be informing citizens twice a day, starting tomorrow, about the situation regarding coronavirus - at 8 am and at 6 pm.

"We are already taking all measures and will be fully ready in two or three days. And we have chosen our approach. Since some countries didn't  announce that there were infected people there, we opted for complete truth and openness towards the citizens. Starting tomorrow, the Ministry of Health will report on its website about any changes twice daily, once at 8 in the morning and at 6 pm, information that all media can carry. People should be informed from there, not by those who misinform and have campaigned against vaccines," the president was explicit.

He said we would not close the border. He also stressed that Serbia overcame much bigger problems in the past.

"I have reason for caution, but we have no reason for great concern. The state will do its job. We should be washing our hands as often as possible. I found a reason to make a joke, because Americans say that the virus doesn't grow near alcohol, so I found a reason to have a glass," said Vucic.

The epidemic is winding down in China

The head of the Infectious Diseases Unit of the City Institute for Public Health, epidemiologist Dr. Predrag Kon, said that 2,700 people have died in China.

"There have been about 78,000 infected in China and 2,700 deaths. What is clear is that the epidemic in China is gradually subsiding. We have 2,000 patients outside China, and local outbreaks are emerging. Italy is close to us. We see a lot of concern. Increasing this uncontrollable fear causes irrational behavior. There's no chance that the system that I know so well is not ready to accept the first infected patients in this country. That doesn't mean we won't have a minor epidemic, or some fatal outcome... Social distancing measures are measures that can always be taken in a short amount of time," said Kon.

Mijomir Pelemis, a former director of the Clinic for Infectuous and Tropical Diseases, said he never witnessed this much panic over a virus that is new, however coronaviruses themselves are not new, because a lot known about that.

"It's not true that the most important thing is to put on masks. We all touch with dirty hands and don't wash them enough. We are ready, Serbia's health system is well organized, doctors who mean well to this country will do well," said Pelemis.

He added that this is a disease that we can cope with.

"People die from the flu all the time and nobody writes about that."

No risk equal to zero

Professor Branislav Tiodorovic, an epidemiologist, said that there is no such thing as risk equal to zero in nature.

"Each epidemic is not only a health problem but also a social and economic and political one. Will people will get sick - probably. I come from Nis. Last night, three planes from Italy landed at the Nis airport, all were inspected and everything was normal. It's already clear from what the Chinese have reported that over 80 percent of cases are mild and that complications are very rare. Most affected are those with chronic illnesses. Pregnant women, those who have given birth recently should take care, as well as children regardless of the fact that children seem to get sick rarely. So, we are ready to face the problem, we are organized, but that doesn't mean that we need to raise the level of readiness to 24 hours.

Pediatric pulmonologist Branimir Tiodorovic, speaking about how much more dangerous than coronavirus seasonal flu is, said that one girl has been left paralyzed by the flu.

"The virus in China is nearly over. It's weakening. This is the third variant of coronavirus SARS and MERS, therefore the weakest variant. Please live your life as usual. April will come when the temperature will not suit it.

Finally, when asked by a journalist if anything other than masks should be used like (special) soaps and disinfectants, he replied negatively. The doctors present explained that washing your hands is the most important thing, and that it's best to use regular soap because the liquid variety breeds bacteria.

VIDEO: Vucic speaks about the news that coronavirus has arrived in Serbia

(Telegraf.rs)