In the last 24 hours, COVID-19 claimed eight more lives in Serbia, bringing the total of dead to 39, N1 reported on Friday.

The average age of the deceased was 70 years with other illness. Six of them were men and two women.

The mortality rate so far has been 2,6 percent, dr Darija Kisic Tepavcevic told reporters.

There are 1,476 confirmed cases of infection with coronavirus.

Since Thursday at 3 pm, 748 people were tested and 305 were positive on the virus.

 Out of those infected, 874 are hospitalised, while 81 are on respirators. Since the outbreak of the epidemic, 5,756 people were tested in Serbia.  

Predrag Kon, the main epidemiologist of the Crisis Team, said it was clear that “the fifth week of the outbreak announces a black wave,” in the number of infected and dying.

Following the latest data, Serbia’s Prime Minister said Belgrade was ready to introduce the strictest measures if the spreading of the infection continued at the current pace.