for a Few months, it seemed that the pandemic proceeded in the Balkans well and the infection and death rates were low. In March, as Covid-19 quickly began in Europe spread, imposed by the majority of the Balkan countries in a fast and strict Lockdown.
In may, the Montenegrin Prime Minister crowed that his country was the first covidfreie country on the continent. But by the end of July, Montenegro had the second highest infection rate in Europe. Now eight of the ten European countries with the fastest-rising infection rates in the Balkans.
“Perhaps the situation was never so good as they seemed to be”
If it is true can be considered that the early and decisive Action has been effective, this advantage with the fast re-openings will be lost. You may also receive the early Pay due to poor measurement or a cover-up were wrong; perhaps the situation was never so good as they seemed to be.
Until the beginning of June had died, according to Serbian statistics, only 244 people to the disease. Then the investigation report, the true number is at 632. The President and the government, which were at that time in the election campaign, denied there was any suppression attempts by the actual Numbers. But Gorica Djokic, a Chairman of the Serbian doctors ‘ Union, said that the higher Numbers were consistent with those obtained by the Union of colleagues from all over the country.
Balkan governments communicated “confusing”
Today, explains Dr. Djokic more, seem to be the authorities, even under the pressure of 2.870 disgruntled Doctors, who wrote a letter of protest signed in to publish more accurate Figures. It assumes that a reason for the low infection numbers in the first few months, that hardly Tests. Today, there are more.
But even Serbian Physicians, the hospitals, how they work, even in Covid -, be always tested, nor rare. She believes that the authorities fear a paralysis of the health system, if all the Doctors who carry the Virus, would not work for a week.
As in many Parts of Europe the communication of the official site has been confusing. In the Balkans this confusion was due to the low confidence in the government strengthened. Many people believe that the government is lying about the fact that there even is a Virus, according to Brikena Hoxha of the Kosovo Stability Initiative, a Think-Tank; and that they are paid under a Plan for obtaining foreign assistance to families, in order to claim that related to Covid-died 19.
beaches in Albania, Infected at a tennis tournament in Serbia,
In March, the Kosovar President, who was then embroiled in a political dispute with the Prime Minister and his government, declared to the citizens, they could ignore the government’s instructions to domestic Isolation. On 2. August was announced by the Prime Minister that he was positive on the Virus tested. Unaudited families go in and out of hospitals, to buy for their infected Relatives, food and medication. Thousands flock now to Albania, where they fill the beaches are similar to scenes in the Romanian black sea coast; also in Romania, the number of Infected is rapidly increasing.
with regard to Bosnia, the Analyst Adi Cerimagic says the hospitals are coping well, scandals in connection with Covid-19 the procurement logistics, however, have led many to believe that, “while we were in the Lockdown, so that money was earned”.
In may, Silver Raspberry, an integrated fruit and vegetable companies, was awarded a 5.8 million Dollar contract for the supply of ventilators. In June, Serbia’s tennis star Novak Djokovic introduced against all advice, he organized a regional tournament. He hugged and celebrated with his Croatian and Bulgarian tennis friends, several of which were infected.
Poorer part of Europe has to work – the increases the infections
a Large minority believe in Covid-conspiracy theories that are often propagated by prominent people, including a former Serbian Minister of health. In addition, clerics have played a role. In Montenegro, the infections with the beginning of the holidays and also after large Anti-government demonstrations have sprung up under the leadership of the Orthodox Church in the amount.
throughout the Region, the pandemic coincided with Orthodox, Catholic and Muslim festivals, the families, and multitudes, brought together. Worse yet, Cerimagic: In this poor part of Europe, the pressure is immense to resume work – and that is driving infection rates even further.
This article appeared in the latest Print edition of the “Economist” and was published under the title “Balkan governments, said the coronavirus was under control”. From the English of the Text was translated by Cornelia zinc.
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*The post “governments believed that Corona is under control: What made the Balkans to the Hotspot,” is published by The Economist. Contact with the executives here.
