On the day when the total number of those infected with the novel coronavirus increased to 44, the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina at all levels are introducing new measures to prevent the further spread of the disease and record the first breaches of the newly introduced rules.
As of Thursday, all shopping malls in the Sarajevo Canton with the exception of pharmacies and grocery stores will remain closed until March 31.
Educational institutions in Republika Srpska (RS) entity are preparing to start the online courses for the primary and secondary school students as of March 23. After the schools were temporarily closed for a 15-day period last week in the whole country, the public broadcasters started airing special content that matches the school curriculum.
But, the police are also recording the first breaches of the newly introduced rules.
Police officers apprehended a 51-year-old owner of a bar in the southwestern town of Glamoc, who did not obey the ban on work of all catering businesses or the ban on public gatherings of five or more persons.
In the southern town of Trebinje, the police apprehended two persons who were supposed to be in isolation since March 16 but did not obey the order.
Meanwhile, the Inspectorate of Bosnia's Federation (FBiH) entity has intensified sanitary and health control on border crossing in line with the instructions issued by the entity and the state authorities.
Also, the Border Police temporarily suspended five officers under suspicion of taking bribe for allowing several persons to cross the border contrary to the newly introduced rules. Border police chief Zoran Galic said the officers would be temporarily removed from work, as their further presence would “negatively reflect on the image of the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
The overall health situation concerning the coronavirus outbreak remained unchanged in Republika Srpska, with no new reported infections, while another half of the country, the Federation (FBiH) entity, reported six new cases on Thursday.
RS crisis management group said a day ago that the first cluster has been closed, with the full recovery of the first two patients in that entity.
