Five new cases of the novel coronavirus have been discovered in Bosnia's Republika Srpska (RS) entity since its last report at 11:45 am this Friday, the entity Health Ministry said.

“The patients are younger women who were in close contact with the earlier confirmed case. That person, in turn, was in close contact with the patient who has tested positive in Croatia. All patients are feeling fine and two of them were transferred to the RS University Clinical Centre while three were placed into home isolation,” the Ministry said.

This brings the total number of confirmed RS cases on Friday to seven, and the total number of patients in Bosnia to 18.

Earlier this week, Bosnia authorities have decided to ban large outdoor events, and the RS entity closed down all schools and universities. 

Flights from Sarajevo Airport to Athens and Rome have been cancelled, and federal government introduced an entry ban on all foreign nationals travelling from countries affected by the outbreak, including Italy, Iran, South Korea, and several Chinese provinces.