The President Has Announced State of Emergency

This evening the President of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Aleksandar Vucic, held a press conference regarding the current situation in Serbia caused by COVID-19 epidemic and, based on his authorities proscribed by the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, announced state of emergency in the Republic of Serbia. The President emphasized that all schools, pre-school institutions and faculties in Serbia will be closed as of tomorrow and that all Serbian citizens coming to Serbia from foreign countries will be required to spend 14 days in self-isolation and those who come from the territories with high presence of coronavirus will be imposed with 28 days of self-isolation. Besides Serbian citizens coming from abroad, the territory of Serbia could be entered only by diplomats and members of their families and foreign nationals having residence permits.

Mr. Aleksandar Vucic also informed the public that he has personally sent a letter to the Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping, asking him and Chinese people to provide support and help Serbia during this difficult period, bearing in mind the steel friendship between Serbia and China. According to Mr. Vucic’s words, Serbia has bought 5 million masks from China and he also expects the purchase of respirators.

According to the latest published information, currently there are 48 patients with confirmed coronavirus diagnosis in Serbia. Therefore, the Government of the Republic of Serbia enacted today a conclusion prohibiting public events in closed spaces for 50 or more people and recommending persons older than 65 to limit their activities and to go out of their homes only if it is necessary, considering that they are the most vulnerable group of citizens. Moreover, the Government rendered a decision on limiting the prices of basic life groceries, protection equipment and means of disinfection.

The City Headquarters for Emergency Situations of Belgrade also enacted a decision on announcing state of emergency in the City of Belgrade which presumes the interruption of work of all pre-school institutions as of March 16^th and reduction of volume of public transportation and its functioning according to the Saturday’s driving order which will be applicable as of March 17^th. In addition, as of March 16^th, the measure of reduction of working hours of all restaurants, coffee houses and bars at the territory of Belgrade will be implemented so that they work in the period from 8 am until 8 pm and in those closed spaces can be present only up to 50 persons. In addition, all daily centers and clubs for older people at the territory of the City of Belgrade will be closed, as well as all sports facilities.

More details regarding the concrete measures imposed on citizens and residents of Serbia during state of emergency will be available in the next 48 hours.

Source: https://www.rts.rs/