Commenting on the new anti-epidemic measure banning the gatherings of more than five people indoors and outdoors, Darija Kisic Tepavcevic, an epidemiologist and a member of Serbia's Crisis Team, said on Friday it referred to indoor public manifestations like celebrations, congresses, seminars, but not to schools, workplaces, theatres and cinemas.

“In those cases, the four square meters per persons and two-meter physical distance must be secured,” she said.

The so-far limit of 500 people in theatres and cinemas worked well with mandatory face masks, Kisic Tepavcevic added.

She said, “the public transport is exempted from the new measure, and it remains a place for spreading the virus, and thus we should warn each other to wear masks.”

Kisic Tepavcevic also said that if the situation in Serbia worsen as was the case in the neighbourhood, potential new measures or tightening the existing one would be considered.

Shorter working hours of restaurants and cafes were also discussed, but, as she said, “if they work to 11 pm, that doesn’t mean we must stay there until that hour.”

The fine for violating the new measure would be the same as for the existing ones in line with the Law on Population Protection from Contagious Diseases – Euro 42.5 for an individual and between 425 and 2,500 Euro for companies.