Bosnia's Republika Srpska (RS) entity introduced a new set of measures on Wednesday in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak and to prevent its further spread, the RS crisis management group said, adding that the measures will be in effect by March 30.

The authorities put a ban on all public gatherings, on work of all catering businesses, gyms and spa centres, bet shops, open markets, private dental clinics and kindergartens, while they restricted the working hours of shopping malls, grocery stores, soup kitchens, hotels, motels, hostels, gas stations and pharmacies.

So far, 29 persons in this half of Bosnia tested positive for the coronavirus and, according to RS Health Minister Alen Seranic, a total of three clusters were identified on RS territory.

“The first cluster in RS is shutting down, both patients have been cured. The most efforts are put in stopping the clusters in Banja Luka,” said the minister.

He also recalled that 13 patients have been hospitalised at the Banja Luka Clinical Centre, of which three are undergoing the treatment to cure the COVID-19 and ten are quarantined.

“It's good news, there are no persons older than 65 among the patients, all of them are young or mid-aged persons. The symptoms they have are mild and moderate,” he said.