Serbia To Impose Weekend Lockdown After Virus Surge
Umer Jamshaid Published March 05, 2021 | 10:31 PM
Serbia will shut down all but essential businesses over the weekend to combat a spike in new coronavirus cases, the government-appointed crisis team said Friday
Belgrade, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Mar, 2021 ) :Serbia will shut down all but essential businesses over the weekend to combat a spike in new coronavirus cases, the government-appointed crisis team said Friday.
Under the new measures only food stores, pharmacies and gas stations will be open from noon on Saturday until Monday morning.
While the Balkan state has become one of the world's fastest vaccinators in recent weeks, it has nevertheless recorded a steep surge in infections, recording around 4,000 new cases daily this week.
Doctors on the government's pandemic task force have been urging a longer lockdown, warning that the new cases are overstretching the health system to a "catastrophic" level.
The group's leading epidemiologist Predrag Kon said that while he believes a weekend lockdown is "clearly insufficient", it was a compromise with officials on the task force led by Prime Minister Ana Brnabic.
Serbia's government has long resisted tougher measures that would inflict further damage on the economy or trigger the type of protests that erupted against a proposed lockdown last July.
"These are the decisions. What happened behind that door, I'll leave it there", Kon said after the crisis group meeting.
Serbia's restaurants and bars have been packed in recent weeks, with 8pm mandatory closures skirted by some underground party venues.
But the country has made major gains with its vaccine rollout, administering nearly 1.5 million doses -- mostly of the Chinese-made Sinopharm jab -- to its 7 million population.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Fresh wave of rainfall in AJK continues for the second consecutive day
Babar, bowlers help Pakistan level series 2-2 against New Zealand
Attack in restive Chilean province leaves three police officers dead
PM, Saudi Royal court advisor discuss ways to boost economic ties
England clinch third successive Women's Six Nations Grand Slam
DC Bahawalnagar leads fight for fair bread prices
Sheffield Utd relegated from Premier League
02 proclaimed offenders arrested by Wah Police
Pakistan level T20I series with nine-run victory over New Zealand
Minister meets Chinese Consul General, discusses bilateral cooperation, Chinese ..
MS Children Hospital takes over charge
3 dacoits arrested, illegal weapons recovered
More Stories From World
-
Pro-Palestinian protests embroil US colleges, prompting arrests
3 hours ago -
Depleted Milan hold Juve to close in on Champions League
4 hours ago -
RugbyU: French Top 14 results
4 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results -- 3rd update
4 hours ago -
Italy summons Russian envoy over Ariston subsidiary takeover
4 hours ago -
Italy summons Russian envoy over Ariston subsidiary takeover
4 hours ago
-
Liverpool's Premier League title hopes suffer blow, Sheffield Utd relegated
5 hours ago -
England clinch Women's Six Nations Grand Slam
5 hours ago -
Mullins breaks 70 year hiatus to be crowned British champion trainer
5 hours ago -
Liverpool Premier League title hopes suffer blow, Sheffield Utd relegated
6 hours ago -
Attack in restive Chilean province leaves three police officers dead
6 hours ago -
Magnitude 6.5 earthquake strikes off Indonesia's Java island: authorities
6 hours ago