Montenegrin health authorities on Tuesday reported 1,120 new cases of COVID-19, almost twice as many as on Monday, when 580 new infections were reported, which prompted the health authorities to announce a tightening of epidemiological rules.

The country’s health authorities said that most of the new infections with the Omicron variant were people under 40.

A decision on new restrictions will be made on Wednesday, and consultations are underway on the possible reassignment of medical staff to help out in primary health care.

Owing to a fall in the number of infections, the Montenegrin health authorities last week allowed hospitality establishments to work also after midnight during the Christmas and New Year holidays, but with customers having to show COVID certificates.

Organised outdoor New Year parties were banned previously, and the wearing of face masks is compulsory indoors.

Montenegro has fully immunised around 60% of the adult population, while 75,000 Montenegrins have also taken a booster dose.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, 2,398 people have died of coronavirus in Montenegro.