Mandatory PCR testing for those coming to Serbia ahead of the upcoming holidays is being considered

Photo: Tanjug/Rade Prelic

The epidemiological situation in Serbia is currently very complex, as we are still recording a large number of new coronavirus cases, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said today, adding that it is important that the number does not grow dramatically but is maintained at a certain level.

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We hope, if we continue to respect the measures in the coming days or a week, that the number will start to fall, Brnabic said during an online conference organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Serbia (AmCham) on the occasion of presenting the results of its annual study.

She said that the fight against coronavirus and the consequences it leaves continues, and added that it will be the same in the first half of next year.

"We expect that in the first half of 2021, there will be a continuation of the fight against the virus and its consequences on the economy," she said.

She pointed out that it will also be considered whether some other type of support for the economy will be needed next year.

PCR for entering Serbia?

One of the measures currently being considered to combat Covid 19 is the introduction of mandatory PCR testing for those coming to Serbia ahead of the upcoming holidays, and we continue to appraise the measures on a daily basis and what still needs to be done to keep the situation under control, added Brnabic.

The prime minister said that work continues on the prevention of possible catastrophic scenarios, in order not to shut down the economy, or to have as little shutdown as possible.

Asked about public-private partnerships in healthcare, Brnabic said that there is interest in that and that we should fight coronavirus together.

"It seems to me that private healthcre institutions were not interested in getting included in the beginning of the pandemic, but they were willing to provide some devices, equipment and premises, in some cases we used it, and in some we did not," said the prime minister.

Regarding the capacity for hospitalization, Brnabic said that they are very small in private institutions compared to the needs, but that there is readiness to continue talking about it.

As for vaccination, she said that the interest is that as many people as possible want to be vaccinated, that the vaccine will be free but not mandatory, and that she is concerned because of polls that say only 20 percent of people in Belgrade want to be vaccinated.

"We hope that thanks to a good campaign during which citizens will be informed that the vaccine is safe that percentage will be much higher because vaccination is needed," stated Brnabic.

(Telegraf.rs)