Alliance for Serbia Demands Immediate Improvement of Conditions at Belgrade Fair Temporary Hospital

Belgrade Fair, virus (Beta/AP/Darko Vojinovic)

Alliance for Serbia asked the authorities on April 13 to treat “with more dignity” those admitted to the provisional hospitals, like the one at the Belgrade Fair, set up for people suffering from mild COVID-19 symptoms; to improve the facilities’ hygiene standards, and test the patients regularly, so that they do not have to go on a hunger strike.

“The Alliance maintains that the hygiene at the Belgrade Fair is bellow the minimum hygiene standard. The private company in charge of the upkeep is tardy, and the authorities have been inattentive. On several occasions the toilets hadn’t been cleaned nor restocked with toilet paper for two days. It is pitiful when one has no toilet paper, but what is far worse is not having enough medication,” the announcement said.

The alliance also claims that the staff at the fair, with the exception of one army doctor, does not allow patients to come closer than five meters, although all of them wear protective suits, which further humiliates the patients.

“Once again there is proof that Aleksandar Vucic has not been telling the truth: there are between 300 and 400 people at the fair, and one-half of its capacity has been filled, meaning there is no more than 700 places in total. And, Aleksandar Vucic said there were some 3,000 beds. Moreover, the percentage of infected medical workers compared to the total number of people infected also speaks volumes, and goes to show that medical facilities have not been adequately equipped with protective gear,” the announcement added.