A senior member of the Serbian government pandemic Crisis Staff said on Friday that face masks were mandatory both indoors and in open spaces, but the government issued a statement saying that the measure was just a recommendation a few hours later.
Speaking earlier, Dr Darija Kisic Tepavcevic said that the government pandemic Crisis Staff ordered the public to wear masks at all times and explained that the measures was introduced because respiratory infections, including the coronavirus, spread easily at this time of year and that the number of new cases is rising across the country. “In line with that, a decision was taken to step up all current measures including controlling their implementation,” she said adding that it’s important to wear masks at all times including in open spaces.
The government statement said that masks are mandatory indoors but that the wearing of masks outdoors is just a recommendation, the state TV (RTS) said. Kisic Tepavcevic also told the state agency Tanjug that the measure was a recommendation and not mandatory.
The Crisis Staff also banned local authorities from issuing permits for gatherings of more than 30 people and ordered the preparation of the Belgrade Arena hall to receive coronavirus patients as of next Monday.
Kisic Tepavcevic said that the Belgrade Arena would be ready for COVID-19 patients on Monday, adding that the focus in future will be on temporary hospitals because permanent hospitals which are not primarily for infectious diseases have to be kept open for non-coronavirus patients.
The Crisis Staff did not change the working hours of restaurants and cafes which have to close at 11:00 pm.