It's decided: Covid passes to be abolished. Masks remain a recommendation, but no fines

Crisis HQ member Darija Kisic announced today, after a meeting of that body, that Covid passes will be abolished in Serbia on Saturday.

"All measures will be softened. First of all, I would like to mention the abolition of Covid passes, which will come into force on Saturday. We will also keep the recommendation to wear masks indoors. When it comes to the total number of people at indoor gatherings, the limit is abolished. From Saturday, all cinemas, theaters, will be able to work in the normal mode of operation, as before all measures were introduced," said Kisic.

She added that isolation of those infected is still in force because that is a basic epidemiological measure that includes isolation for at least seven days.

"When it comes to passengers in international traffic, all measures remain in force. This means that the obligatory condition for entering the country is proof of vaccination, of having had Covid, or an appropriate serological test.

New booster dose of vaccine

A fourth, or second booster dose of the vaccine will be introduced for all those over 18 years of age.

"The second booster dose will be given five months after the first booster dose. It refers primarily to people who are at a higher risk. The recommendation for the introduction of a booster dose for vaccination of children from 12 to 18 years of age was also accepted. It will be received at least five months after the second dose of the vaccine," she added.

According to Kisic, vaccination is still the most important measure, so the most important of the decisions made is the one related to the additional dose of the vaccine.

She said that the measures will be further corrected in case of a worsening of the epidemiological situation.

Kisic pointed out that for the hospital environment, depending on the level of risk, a risk assessment will be done and in that way decisions will be made on the need for a certificate, but that wearing masks will certainly remain mandatory.

"As long as the virus is present, there is always a risk. What is obvious, since it has been two years since the virus was confirmed, is that we will have to set epidemiological thresholds in the coming period, so that we know whether we are in an epidemic or not. Coronavirus is different, so the entire health environment will define these thresholds in the coming period."

She added that when it comes to gerontological centers, a large number of users and employees have been vaccinated, and that visits are possible if there are no patients in the institution.

Not wearing masks won't be sanctioned

As Dr. Kisic pointed out, from now on there will be no sanctions for not wearing a mask indoors.

"Wearing a mask is at the level of a recommendation, so there are no sanctions if the recommendation is not followed. However, every gathering indoors carries a risk, so we should be responsible primarily for our own health. When it is not possible to keep the distance, it is strongly recommended to wear a mask," she noted.

The quarantine measure for healthy people is also one of those that is being abolished.

Professor Dr. Branislav Tiodorovic said yesterday that the medical part of the Crisis HQ was asking for the abolition of Covid passes, and added that he believes that this is absolutely right because the pass has lost its meaning.

"Although they were introduced to be valid only from 8 pm, and not around the clock as we asked earlier, that is not respected at all, either. We will also abolish the quarantine for the contacts of the infected, which means the healthy people who have been in contact with those infected with Covid. But, not the isolation of those positive for Covid, which remains seven days," Tiodorovic said and recalled that after seven days, only health workers who do not have symptoms will get tested, so if it turns out that they are still positive, their isolation is extended for three days and after a total of 10 days they return to work.

As for the fourth, booster dose, it will most likely be recommended only to people with a compromised immune system, i.e. those who have chronic diseases.

"We will recommend that the fourth dose to everyone over the age of 60 and everyone with chronic diseases, and they do not necessarily have to be older. More than six months have passed since the third dose, which was generally received by everyone in those categories. Of course, everyone else who wants will be able to receive the fourth dose, but our recommendation primarily refers to the at-risk categories," said Tiodorovic.

The Crisis HQ for the fight against coronavirus held consultations with Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabic last Friday.

(Telegraf.rs)