Serbia has declared a state of emergency: China is helping, Europe is not
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced live on the evening of Sunday, March 15, the introduction of a state of emergency due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The head of state said the country was fighting an “invisible and very dangerous enemy.” Vučić asked citizens to show discipline and solidarity.
“Europe has faced such a terrible threat for the first time since World War II. This war is especially dangerous for our elderly, parents, grandfathers - those who built our country. And we must win this war for their sake,” Vucic said.
He especially called on people of retirement age to refrain from leaving home, to reduce any communication, including not to take their grandchildren with them. Everything necessary for their life will have to be provided by younger family members, and if older people do not have them, by social service specialists.
As part of the emergency, all Serbian borders will be closed to any foreigners, except those who have a residence permit or citizenship, as well as doctors from China - they will have to come to Serbia to help their colleagues.
For citizens arriving from countries with outbreaks of the disease, primarily from Italy and Spain, quarantine will be 28 days. For those who have been in contact with sick people – 14 days. The punishment for violating quarantine is imprisonment for a period of three years. Hospitals will be guarded by police and army officers.
All educational institutions - from kindergartens to universities - are closed for an indefinite period, possibly until the end of the school year. The same applies to catering establishments, sports clubs, sections, cultural and entertainment institutions. It’s hard to imagine, but in Belgrade it will still be impossible to drink a cup of coffee... citizens will only be able to go out to the pharmacy and grocery store.
Night public transport flights will be cancelled, and the number of daytime ones will be reduced. In this regard, the head of state called on organizations and companies to transfer employees to remote work, if possible, and cancel meetings and appointments.
President Vučić said that he turned to his faithful friend and “brother”, Chinese Secretary General Xi Jinping, for help, with a request to provide medical personnel to support Serbian colleagues. In addition, 5 million medical masks and additional ventilators were purchased from partners from the East, of which there are only 100 in the country at the moment. At the same time, the Serbian leader came down hard on his Western colleagues from the EU who are blocking the sale of medicines to the Balkan country.
“Unfortunately, the story of European solidarity remains just a fairy tale on paper,” Vucic noted bitterly. According to him, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the ban on the export of medicines and medical equipment from the EU. The Serbian president promised that he would find a way to “thank” such friends
Currently, 55 cases of coronavirus have been officially registered in Serbia. According to Vučić, “99% of them brought it from Milan.” Two patients are connected to a ventilator, the rest are in satisfactory condition. No deaths have been reported yet. However, the situation can get out of control at any moment.
At the same time, in the capital of the country, a few days before the president addressed the public, a shopping boom began: people began to buy essential goods, stock up on flour, toilet paper, cereals... Despite the fact that there is no shortage of goods in retail chains, a number of shelves in the stores are empty. The press secretary of the largest retail store in the country emphasized that the reason lies in the fact that employees simply do not have time to lay out goods, and there is enough of everything in the warehouses.
Vucic spoke separately on this issue, emphasizing that “there is enough flour in the country.” They even wanted to export it, but the head of state did not give permission for this. There will be no hunger and inflation - the latter will be monitored by a special commission, and those businessmen who want to profit from the mountain will be punished.
How has the attack of the “enemy” – the COVID-19 virus – affected the life of the Balkan country so far?
Perhaps, apart from some tension in stores and half-empty shopping centers, there were no significant changes in the life of the capital before the introduction of the state of emergency. Public transport ran smoothly, and there were practically no people wearing medical masks. But, of course, everything can still change.
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