No Serbian New Year partying, "Each day dozens lose battle, we'll see how effective measures are"

Photo: Tanjug/Zoran Zestic

Minister Darija Kisic Tepavcevic said today after the session of the Crisis HQ for the fight against coronavirus that there will be no organized celebration of the Serbian (Orthodox) New Year (evening of January 13).

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She confirmed that all existing measures remain in force.

"There will be no organized celebration of the Serbian New Year. When it comes to the current epidemiological situation, it has been determined that there are no obstacles for the school year to start on January 18. Considering that we have a drop in the frequency of the disease, the plan is that this week the Institute for Orthopedics Banjica will start working in a non-Covid mode again," she said and added that about 19,000 Pfizer vaccines are expected to arrive today.

She could not specify how long the existing measures will remain in force. She explained that HQ members meet once a week to analyze the epidemiological situation.

She recalled that vaccination against coronavirus is in progress.

"Now the priority are health workers and employees and residents in gerontological centers and social protection institutions, after that come other priorities. You also know that from today, it is possible to apply for vaccination, and everyone will receive information in a timely manner about their exact term," said the minister.

According to her, there is a detailed plan for vaccination, but depending on the available quantities of the vaccine in coming period of time, all those who have applied to get vaccinated will know where and when to show up.

"It will function in such a way so there are no long queues, no waiting and it will be implemented in the shortest possible time," said Professor Dr. Kisic Tepavcevic.

The numbers are still high

As for the epidemiological situation, she said that a decrease in the frequency of the disease is being registered, but that these are still high numbers.

"When estimating a trend, it's always compared to the previous period. If we compare it with the high numbers we had in previous weeks, we register a decline, but these are still extremely large numbers. Every day, several dozen people lose the battle with this disease. Yes, there is a decline, but the virus is still present, we must not relax, especially now because in the coming period we'll see if there was any effect from the measures, when there were gatherings before the holidays.

We see that in some other countries, which had holidays before us, there was an increase in new cases. We hope that will not happen with us. We have the vaccine, the vaccination has started, but we must not relax," warned Dr. Kisic Tepavcevic.

Asked to comment on the cases of young doctors dying from Covid, she said that every death represents a loss, and added that analyses are being done for each workplace, noting that healthcare workers are most exposed to risk.

(Telegraf.rs)