If the current rate of about 500 new coronavirus daily numbers continues throughout January in Montenegro, estimates show that about 10% of the country's population may have contracted the novel virus by the end of the month.

Since the start of the pandemic, Montenegro has registered 51,160 infections with coronavirus, and currently, 10,000 are active.

In terms of the number active cases per 100,000 inhabitants, Montenegro ranks first in the region with 1,497 per 100,000, Slovenia follows with the ratio of 1,082 per 100,000 and Bosnia and Herzegovina with 852 per 100,000, the Montenegrin MINA news agency stated on Thursday when Podgorica reported 463 new daily cases.

On Thursday, there were seven COVID-related deaths, bringing the death toll to 712 in the country with the population of about 600,000 inhabitants.