Bosnia has recorded another 42 cases of infection with the novel coronavirus, 17 in Federation (FBiH) and 25 in Republika Srpska (RS), the healthcare authorities of both regions confirmed Friday in their daily press conferences. RS has seen eight new fatalities caused by the virus, which brings the country's death toll to 98.

According to official daily updates by the Civil Affairs Ministry, the country has so far confirmed 2,070 Covid-19 patients.

FBiH health authorities have performed 577 lab tests over the last 24 hours and confirmed 17 new infected patients, who come from the central Zenica-Doboj Canton and the northwestern Una-Sana Canton.

The total number of patients in this part of Bosnia has now reached 983, with 535 of those who have recovered and 34 deaths.

Authorities in the FBiH announced on Friday they would consider the mitigation of another set of coronavirus restriction measures that were introduced in the previous months and likely allow the opening of kindergartens, dental clinics, bars, public transportation and other services under strict regulations.

As for RS, its authorities reported eight new deaths caused by Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, which brings the death toll in this half of Bosnia only to 61.

Of 507 tested persons, 25 new Covid-19 patients were confirmed in RS, most of them coming from Banja Luka, the region’s administrative centre.

So far, RS authorities confirmed 1,068 cases, 409 have recovered and 61 died.

Alen Seranic, the RS Health Minister, confirmed that the authorities are preparing to cancel the state of emergency in the region.

Brcko District, a separate administrative unit in the north of the country, has so far confirmed 19 patients and three deaths.