State of emergency in Serbia; PM: Unless citizens show self-discipline, there'll be drastic measures

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic appealed to citizens today to listen to the recommendations of the state and experts about ways to reduce the spread of coronavirus, and said that otherwise, drastic measures would be introduced, including a total ban on freedom of movement, and a police curfew.

Brnabic told TV Prva that she saw big traffic jams and a large number of people in the streets of the capital today, pointing out that citizens did not take the recommendations of the president, prime minister and experts seriously enough.

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"Please exercise self-discipline, especially senior citizens, do not go out. Do not make us impose curfews and take the military and police to the streets and completely prohibit freedom of movement. That is the most drastic measure possible, and neither I nor the president would want to implement it," said Brnabic.

She said that if such a situation continued, more drastic measures would have to be taken in the next two days, which would include additional involvement of the Interior Ministry (MUP), and the Serbian Army.

"Today I will get reports from other cities, urban areas are the most vulnerable, if it's like this in other cities, then that's devastating," said Brnabic.

She said that this morning she saw big traffic jams and crowds of people in the streets of Belgrade, and a large number of elderly citizens in the streets, bakeries, and stores.

Photo: Tanjug/AP

"I plead with everyone over 65 take it most seriously, for your own sake and for the sake of the healthcare system. We must strive to control the situation so that the number of infected people is kept to a minimum, that is, to a number that our health system can receive and treat," said Brbabic.

She stressed that without solidarity, the epidemic cannot be defeated.

The prime minister also said that 55 cases of the new coronavirus have been registered in Serbia so far.

Of these, 28 are treated at home and their condition is stable.

Of the patients being treated in medical institutions, two people are on ventilators and in a serious condition.

"We currently have the situation under control, which is not to say it will remain so. It is common that about 15 days after the onset of the virus, the number of those infected increases drastically, hitting the health care system the hardest," said Brnabic.

(Telegraph.rs/Tanjug)