Despite the decision on alleviating the movement restriction measures in Bosnia's Federation entity, its authorities warn that citizens should still be taking the coronavirus pandemic seriously, the healthcare minister said on Saturday as the country confirmed dozens of new virus infections.

Speaking to N1, Federation’s (FBiH) Health Minister Vjekoslav Mandic said the citizens should still be careful and not take for granted the new situation.

Majority of citizens has been obeying the recommendations and measures, and that is exactly why the healthcare system did not collapse, stressed the minister. “We can see what’s going on in the world, they cannot even bury the dead properly. We’re still managing to preserve the healthcare system,” he added.

According to official statistics by the Civil Affairs Ministry, Bosnia recorded 65 new cases by Saturday 1 pm in both of its regions, Federation and Republika Srpska as well as Brcko District, and the country’s tally now stands at 1,486. The number of fatalities has risen to 57, while 592 patients have recovered.

FBiH healthcare authorities have performed 753 tests over the past 24 hours, with 25 those positive for the novel coronavirus, which brings the tally in this part of the country to 811.

This region, which makes a little over half of the country’s territory, decided on Friday to ease the movement restriction measures for the categories that were assessed as the most vulnerable during the pandemic – those aged above 65 and under 18, and revoked the decision on the curfew hours that has been in effect since March 21.

The region also discontinued the mandatory 14-day quarantine practice for all those entering the country on the border crossings situated on the FBiH’s territory, advising them instead to self-isolate at their homes for the same period.

The decision sparked the reaction in the other half of the country, Republika Srpska (RS), whose health minister said this might epidemiologically put in jeopardy its residents.

“The FBiH’s decision epidemiologically jeopardises Republika Srpska, because those coming from abroad who enter the border crossings on the FBiH’s territory will get instruction to go into home isolation. That poses a problem in terms of monitoring those persons in Republika Srpska,” said Alen Seranic, the RS Health Minister.

Unlike the FBiH, RS has kept in effect the restricted movement measures aimed to contain the virus spread. Its authorities earlier said the measures might be loosened up only after the Labour Day and St. George’s Day (May 1 and May 6). However, as of April 27, those aged above 65 will be allowed to leave their homes every weekday from 7 am until 10 am.

RS has seen the largest number of lab testing that was performed in one single day, and of 765 tested samples, 38 were positive for the novel coronavirus. Two patients who were hospitalised at the University Clinical Centre in Banja Luka died as a result of Covid-19, the RS healthcare authorities confirmed on Saturday.

The total of 130 health workers, 65 tenants of nursing homes and 14 healthcare inspectors were among the tested patients, of which eight nurses tested positive for Covid-19.