Dr. Kon: Does somebody think we're idiots? People get infected the most in one kind of place

Photo: Tanjug/Strahinja Acimovic

Epidemiologist Predrag Kon said this morning that the position of the medical part of the Crisis HQ was to prevent all contacts, but that he understands why there has not been a complete lockdown.

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"I call this a kind of economic dictate, and I can understand it personally, but this makes it difficult to prevent contacts when you open retail opportunities, one condition is there, nine square meters of distance. If measures were respected, and we know they are not, we could ensure the stabilization of the virus' activity. Those days of complete lockdown are really not enough, but with that economic dictate and these measures, which are very clear, the square footage and the allowed number of people in a room must be stressed," said Kon.

Dr. Kon says that if the lockdown lasted a long time, like in some other parts of Europe, we would be practically unable to survive.

"On the other hand, we need to understand that if one segment of society is the most endangered, then we need to find a way to help. At the moment, the healthcare system is the most endangered, not the hospitality industry. They are in the financial sense, while the healthcare system is on the verge of survival."

When it comes to the hospitality industry and easing of measures, the epidemiologist announced that a meeting of the Crisis HQ will be held tomorrow.

"Opening gardens is a realistic request in some upcoming time. The main place of non-compliance with the measures are hospitality establishments, primarily cafes and restaurants. Everyone who enters wears a mask, and then takes it off where they are sitting. I also wear a mask while drinking coffee. It's not true that this cannot be done, the same goes for eating. If you want to do it, you can do it. Restaurants are proven by scientific research as the place where people get infected the most. The establishments don't spread the infection, but the places of gathering. Singing is an important factor, droplets can travel up to 12 meters. Nobody tries to sing with a mask on," Dr. Kon explains, and adds:

"They ask if it has been scientifically proven that's where people get infected. Does somebody think we are idiots?! When you ask someone where they were was, how they got infected, you come to the conclusion that they had been in such a place."

Kon also announced that the issue of opening restaurant gardens will come next and that this will certainly be discussed at the session of the Crisis HQ tomorrow, and that he will have to explain his reasons why now is not the time, stressing that we should wait for the virus activity to start falling.

Betting parlors are treated like retail outlets, says Kon, and adds that if drinks are served in them, they should not be open.

"We (Serbians) are very skilled at avoiding various bans and finding a way to deceive I don't know who. The point is that the infection reaches not only the one who becomes infected there, but some tenth person. Mostly older people are still dying," said Kon.

When it comes to crowds in supermarkets, the epidemiologist said that measures of a distance of nine square meters should be respected there as well.

He also commented on the recent gathering at the monument to Stefan Nemanja on Sava Square in Belgrade.

"I don't find it so tragic, it's the will to live, but it's terribly offensive toward the workers in Covid centers and I don't think they thought about it."

Kon says that there are doctors who have not been vaccinated, but also that he does not like the fact that the public is given space for saying that vaccines are not needed.

"There's heaps of lies on social networks. It's wrong to give space to people who have been speaking out against vaccination for decades. There are 1-2% of people who will never vaccinate their children or themselves," Kon stresses.

He explains that there have been various stories throughout history about vaccination that have proven to be untrue, as well as that there are smaller groups that cannot get sick.

(Telegraf.rs)