After more than 200 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in Montenegro on Friday, for the fourth consecutive day, the country's health authorities said stricter epidemiological measures would go into force in communities with the highest rate of infection as of Monday.

A total of 245 new infections were confirmed on Friday, and currently there are 3,630 active cases, which is 576 infections per 100,000 population. The epidemic in Montenegro flared up after political rallies held in the run-up to the August 31 parliamentary elections.

The stricter epidemiological measures will be introduced based on a new methodological approach, which takes into account the number of infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the last two weeks.

Face masks obligatory for all above 5

A lockdown will be imposed on Niksic, the country's second biggest town, Berane and Andrijevci, where the infection rate exceeds 1,200 per 100,000 population.

In those communities all bars and restaurants will be closed down and a curfew will be in force from 10 pm to 5 am. All indoor and outdoor gatherings will be banned.

Bars and restaurants in most other towns will be able to operate until 10 pm.

The new school year in Montenegro starts on October 1 and today it was decided that all residents above the age of five will have to wear face masks outdoors for at least two weeks.

Montenegro is currently the leading country in the region in terms of the number of active COVID-19 cases, with 576 infections per 100,000 population.