Coronavirus: Bosnia reports sharp rise in cases after relaxing lockdown
- Authorities reported 93 new infections and two deaths on Wednesday, compared with 20 new infections the previous day
- ‘We have to go back to normal life,’ health official says, as country’s economy feels impact of restrictions
Bosnia reported on Wednesday its sharpest daily rise in new coronavirus infections this month after its two autonomous regions had gradually begun to ease lockdowns.
There were 93 new infections and two deaths in the previous 24 hours, compared with 20 new infections a day earlier and 49 the day before that, officials said.
The total number of infected people rose to 1,677 with 65 deaths, while 29,130 have been tested.
Both the Bosniak-Croat Federation and the Serb Republic imposed lockdowns last month after the outbreak of Covid-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus. Their measures included barring people aged over 65 and children up to 18 from leaving home at all.
The Serb Republic, which started on Monday to let senior citizens leave home for three hours each workday and some businesses to reopen, reported 59 new cases. Its officials urged citizens to continue to avoid gatherings and to wear masks at all times.
“The percentage of positive cases in relation to those tested is revealing a lowering of individual discipline in obeying the prescribed measures,” Serb Republic Health Minister Alen Seranic said, adding that 8 per cent of those tested in the past 24 hours were found to be positive, up from 5 per cent previously.