Epidemiologist: Coronavirus Epidemic Not Calming Down, but Picking Up

Dr Srdja Jankovic (Beta/Serbian Government/Slobodan Miljevic)

Epidemiologist Srdja Jankovic on Nov. 24 said that the coronavirus epidemic “has not been calming down, but picking up,” adding that instead of considering relaxation of precautions, all should be focusing on strictly following them.

He told state public broadcaster RTS that a ten-day period, during which new countermeasures would be applied, was the minimum period after which the epidemic curve could exhibit some changes, either a favorable or a less favorable trend.

Jankovic stressed that crucial precautions included wearing masks, keeping physical distance and avoiding all gatherings except for those absolutely necessary. Speaking about restricting work hours of certain venues, he stressed that it was much more important to follow precautions while those venues were open.  

Jankovic further said that experts of the Crisis Headquarters, which he is a member of, had suggested that upper elementary grades, high school and university students switched to online classes, while keeping only lower elementary grades at schools. “It has been assessed that it is not necessary for the time being, but the suggestion will remain on the table,” Jankovic said.

The head of the Pulmonology Hospital of the Clinical Center of Serbia, Violeta Mihailovic Vucinic, on Nov. 24 told RTS that the hospital beds were all occupied. She added that this wave was more serious than that in the spring as all patients required oxygen therapy.