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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Prime Minister calls on citizens to act more responsibly

Belgrade, 16 March 2020

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic warned that the civil discipline which citizens have shown when it comes to compliance with the measures introduced during the state of emergency over the coronavirus is worrying and announced that the government will pass additional measures.

Brnabic explained at a press conference at the Serbian government held after a meeting of the COVID-19 crisis response team that all public service counters, at the republic and local levels, will be closed.

She pointed out that conclusions will be made at the level of departments and local self-governments that all operations performed at counters be postponed until further notice.

Brnabic stressed that there will be no consequences for citizens, especially not for pensioners and senior citizens, because they will be able to pay everything in two or three months when this situation with coronavirus is over.

All personal documents that are now expiring will continue to be valid until the state of emergency passes. Citizens will be able to finish all that they have to finish at the counters without any consequences once the state of emergency has passed, the Prime Minister said.

Brnabic said that the government will today make decisions that further limit the work of coffee shops in terms of how many people will be allowed to be present per square metre.

Also, a conclusion will be passed limiting the purchase of gloves, masks and disinfectants, allowing the purchase of 10 masks, 10 pairs of protective gloves and two larger packages, or five smaller disinfectants.

The Prime Minister also stated that export of all medicines will be banned for 30 days and reiterated that there are enough medicines.

Brnabic said the government will have to pass some unpopular measures since it saw that the basic measures adopted are not being respected, and especially that people do not think of others.

Pensioners did not listen to our appeals to stay at home and many are on the streets, in banks, at public service counters, she warned and reiterated her call for greater discipline and solidarity in this crisis.

The Prime Minister said that everyone coming from Italy, Spain, Austria and Switzerland will have to be quarantined for at least 28 days, and stressed that anyone who violates the obligation of self-isolation will be fined with RSD 150,000.

This is a state of emergency. We must fight all together and we must send all together a clear message that if someone does not want to respect the binding decision on self-isolation then they must be punished because they are putting into danger all people in their local community, the Prime Minister reiterated.

She also confirmed that the first help from China has arrived in Serbia – the tests for coronavirus detection, and she expressed big gratitude to the friends from China, adding that it is a Chinese humanitarian organisation headquartered in the Chinese Shenzhen.

This was done in coordination of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade and the Serbian government, with a huge help from President Aleksandar Vucic. We owe them big gratitude for help on behalf of all citizens, she said and confirmed that new donations can be expected.