Kon: Situation catastrophic, but system has not broken down. Fewer new cases in Belgrade next week

Photo: Tanjug/Serbian government/Slobodan Miljevic

Epidemiologist Dr. Predrag Kon expects fewer infected people in Belgrade next week, because there has been no increase in the number of new cases for a second week, that is, the number is at the highest level. However, according to the epidemiologist, this now now a turning point and will take a long time.

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"The number will start to drop soon, there is no increase in the number of infected people in Belgrade. The numbers in Belgrade can be expected to fall next week. However, it will not be like that in the whole country, because the virus is only flaring up in certain parts," Dr. Kon tolf RTS.

Things will be similar, he says, for the upcoming holidays.

"New Year's Eve will not be like usual. The situation will be difficult for the holidays because the pressure on hospitals will continue to be high. The measures will be in force as long as needed, I personally think that they could be stricter," said the doctor.

Dissuade citizens from returning to Serbia

When it comes to our citizens living abroad, Dr. Kon says that everything should be done to dissuade them from returning to the country (for the holidays).

"If the same number of people came as did for Easter, we will not be able to endure it. Now we have a catastrophic situation. The system has not broken down but it is already overstretched and the situation is extremely difficult, completely inappropriate for the 21st century," said the epidemiologist.

When it comes to kindergartens and lower grades of primary school, Kon says that the situation is stable.

"A decrease in the number of reported infections in schools is beginning to emerge. There has been very little transmission of the virus among the children, although we now have teachers getting sick, but outside of school. Infections of educators outside kindergartens is a far bigger problem than transmission within them," the doctor stated.

Photo: Shutterstock, Pixabay

Asked why a negative test is not required 15 days afte contracting the infection, Dr. Kon replied:

"In July, the WHO clearly said that after 14 days, if someone has not had symptoms for three days, they don't carry the virus that is transmissible. At the end of August, at the beginning of September, this started to be applied in our country as well. A patient does not have to have a negative test to be released from the hospital. We treat the patient, not the test," the doctor said.

(Telegraf.rs)