COVID-19 pandemic in Montenegro

The COVID-19 pandemic is occurring in Montenegro as part of the global COVID-19 pandemic that started in China in December 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic affects the novel disease COVID-19 . This is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the Coronaviridae group and belongs to the group of respiratory diseases . From March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the outbreak of the novel coronavirus as a global pandemic .

Course and measures

Montenegro was the last country in Europe to be free of corona. On March 17, 2020, the first two COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Montenegro. They were two women who had returned from the United States and Spain . Within one day, around 1,000 people who had entered the country in the last 14 days were sent into self-isolation. In addition, the obligation to keep a distance of two meters was introduced everywhere and kindergartens, schools, universities, shopping centers, hotels, amusement arcades, playgrounds, restaurants and cafes were closed. International passenger transport to and from Montenegro (air, train, bus) was completely suspended, the borders were closed and domestic passenger traffic was also subject to restrictions. By early April, the government had purchased 17 tons of medical equipment overseas, including over 1.5 million protective masks from China.

On March 22nd, a 65-year-old man died in a hospital, becoming the first COVID-19 victim in Montenegro. At that time, 5,500 people had already been classified as observable. By the end of March, 100 infected people were counted, and a little over 300 by the end of April, with the number of deaths increasing to seven by the end of April 2020 (see statistics). On April 21, it was announced that the first measures would be relaxed, but that attention would still have to be paid to spatial distancing , as the danger was not over yet. At that time there were 313 infected people. Citizens were allowed to go outside until 11 p.m., shops were open longer and people were allowed to do sports outside again. The lockdown in the small town of Tuzi could be lifted. In addition, an offer was made to Italy to help with the temporary accommodation of elderly residents from Lombardy on the coast of Montenegro, which Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte accepted.

In mid-May, 298 of the 324 infected were considered recovered, so that the country positioned itself as a vacation destination for the summer. Many facilities (restaurants, cafes, beaches, shopping centers) have been allowed to operate again since May 15th. For the time being, however, they wanted to be able to observe the situation and therefore left schools and universities closed, continued to prohibit international traffic and kept the mask requirement in all closed public buildings (post office, banks, shops, etc.). At that time, there were a total of ten quarantine centers in seven cities across the country, including hotels (Podgorica, Ulcinj, Herceg Novi, Budva), but also a former barracks (Ulcinj), a ski center (Nikšić), a police school (Danilovgrad) or the Dr Simo Milošević Institute (Herceg Novi). Since the corona risk was considered contained despite the procession on May 12 (see section riots in mid-May 2020 ) and there were still no new infections, the focus turned increasingly to the question of how to hold the elections scheduled for late summer 2020 . When asked whether the ruling party DPS was abusing the Covid-19 situation for the election campaign, the Albanian-Montenegrin politician Genci Nimanbegu said that the small town of Tuzi shows what the government and the NKT (National Coordination Office for Infectious Diseases) are doing. Initially, the highest numbers were reported in Tuci, but when the measures ordered by the NKT were consistently implemented and adhered to, the number of people infected with corona was reduced to zero. He thought that holding the elections was very likely.

On May 18, it was announced that there had been no new case of infection for two weeks. However, only 93 tests were carried out in these 14 days. There were only four active cases left, as 311 of the 324 infected people recovered and nine died. These four cases were split between Ulcinj (2), Gusinje and Bijelo Polje. Therefore, public transport and train services were resumed. It was compulsory to wear a mask and disinfect your hands before entering the bus. The start of air traffic has also been prepared. In the sports sector, the second relaxation was announced, after which it should be possible to practice team sports in reduced teams. From May 30th, sports competitions without an audience were allowed.

Reactions

An Ipsos poll published in mid-May found that over 50 percent of the population fear that they or their family will be infected. However, a similar number of respondents believed that there would soon be a vaccine. A similarly large proportion (almost 50 percent) believed that the media would exaggerate the severity of the virus. Almost 60 percent of the population also believed that the virus had an artificial origin.

Riots in mid-May 2020

Violations of the regulations were not only heavily criticized in public, but led to concrete measures against the responsible persons. At the beginning of the measures, five bar owners who had violated the guidelines were arrested. At the beginning of April, petrol stations that continued to offer catering services were threatened with severe penalties.

On May 12, 2020, the church service in Ostrog Monastery and a subsequent religious procession in Nikšić on the occasion of the holiday of St. Vasilije Ostroški were criticized on the government website as undermining the progress made and then bishop ( episkop ) Joanikije Mićović of the eparchy Budimlja and Nikšić Imprisoned together with seven priests for 72 hours, because at the gathering of several thousand people neither protective masks nor minimum distances were provided. This in turn sparked protests by the Serbian government and the Serbian Orthodox Church , who warned in a joint statement that this could lead to unrest. Immediately on May 13, the main road to Berane at the exit of Andrijevica was blocked , which had to be broken up by the police with tear gas and led to further arrests.

In parallel, the religious ceremonies continued, but now with appropriate measures. From then on, only ten people were allowed to enter the monastery church at the same time, so that long queues formed, but the minimum distance should be observed. The chairman of the New Serbian Democracy Party, Andrija Mandić , announced that it was actually planned to call on all Orthodox believers to protests and blockades until the prisoners were free, but that Metropolitan Amfilohije Radović voted against it. He expressly regretted this, but complied with the request not to abuse the church politically. He also described the government's measures as dictatorial and predicted an end to them soon. On the evening of May 13th, a protest rally of around 400 people took place in Nikšić with wild insults, stones and bottles being thrown against the police, which was broken up after repeated requests with tear gas and shock bombs. Knives and axes were found on those arrested. A total of 22 police officers were injured in Nikšić and another four in Pljevlja . There were 32 arrests in Nikšić and nine in Pljevlja. Most of them are to be prosecuted. The eight clergy were meanwhile under house arrest. Of three arrests in Podgorica, only one was for non-compliance with health regulations aimed at combating a dangerous infectious disease. There were also reports in Budva against 14 people who wanted to express their protest in a convoy and against 12 people because of the road blockade in Andrijevica.

This was not the first violation by the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Corona regulations in Montenegro. Metropolitan Amfilohije had already held a funeral in Cetinje during Easter week (mid-April 2020) and was therefore summoned and briefed by the police. On May 9th he consecrated the church on Briska Gora near Ulcinj , the day before he celebrated a small liturgy in Podgorica and then complained that he had been besieged by the police for no reason. The Serbian Orthodox Bishops' Council has long seen itself in the role of victim and Amfilohije in particular complained about the unilateral application of the Corona measures against the church. According to his account, the procession at Ostrog Monastery was not planned, but arose spontaneously and is in the tradition of recent decades. They only submitted to the will of the crowd and didn't want to leave them alone. He took responsibility for it and offered himself up as the culprit for a possible court case because of the violations of the corona protective measures. In addition to the actual meetings, the belittling requirements of some spiritual leaders that prayers would help against Corona, as well as the spoon communion ceremony , in which the believers perform communion with the same cutlery, are considered violations of the requirements of the Ministry of Health.

On the evening of May 14th and the morning of May 15th there were further meetings in front of the security center and the court in Nikšić. This time the situation remained calm.

International aid

Despite the comparatively low wave of contagion, several countries donated medical equipment. On May 12, 2020 alone, these included 50,000 surgical masks from Hungary and Croatia as well as other protective equipment. Previously, Turkey , the People's Republic of China and Austria , among others, gave medical supplies to Montenegro. The Greek businessman Petros Stathis, the Slovenian businessman Izet Rastoder and the Chinese businessman Jack Ma together donated 800,000 protective masks, 7,000 Covid-19 tests and numerous other protective materials by the beginning of May.

statistics

The number of cases developed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Montenegro as follows:

Infections

Confirmed infections (cumulative) in Montenegro
according to WHO data

New infections in Montenegro
according to WHO data

Deaths

Confirmed deaths (cumulative) in Montenegro
according to WHO data

Confirmed deaths (daily) in Montenegro
according to WHO data

Remarks

1. ↑ ^{a b c d} Cases reported to WHO by national authorities are listed here. Since the situation is very dynamic, there may be discrepancies or delays between the cases of the WHO and the data of national authorities as well as the information provided by other bodies, such as the Johns Hopkins University (CSSE).
2. ↑ ^{a b} In the WHO report No. 185 (pdf) of July 23, 2020, a recount for the period July 15 to 22, 2020 was incorporated. The update of the report is based on this, so it says +91, but here, based on the previous day's value, +341.
3. ↑ ^{a b} In the WHO report No. 189 (pdf) of July 27, 2020, various recounts (March 19 to April 1, May 9, June 14 to July 26) were incorporated. The value of the "new infections" (actually older cases) therefore rose again above average. The likewise above-average increase in WHO report No. 186 (pdf) of July 24th remained without explanation in the WHO reports.
4. ↑ ^{a b} In the WHO report No. 191 (pdf) of July 29, 2020, recounts (i.e. some old cases) were again incorporated, this time for the period from March 19 to July 27, 2020.
5. ↑ In the WHO reports No. 185 (pdf, July 23, 2020), No. 189 (pdf, July 27, 2020) and No. 191 (pdf, July 29, 2020) recounts were incorporated. As a result, the number increases in some cases without any new deaths in the reporting period, which is why the increase compared to the previous day's report (+2) is shown here (29 July) and the number from the WHO report (± 0) has not been adopted.

See also

• List of epidemics and pandemics
• List of deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic

Web links

Commons : COVID-19 Pandemic in Montenegro  - Pictures, Videos and Audio Files Collection

• Institut za javno zdravlje Crne Gore: Sve o COVID-19 na jednom mjestu
• World Health Organization (WHO): Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation reports on the website www.who.int (English)
• Johns Hopkins CSSE : Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases. (English)
• Website World of Meters : real-time data of the Corona virus pandemic (English)
• Website information for German-speaking tourists : Current information on the coronavirus situation in Montenegro (German)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} Rüdiger Rossig: Corona closes the Balkans. Deutsche Welle , March 19, 2020, accessed on May 13, 2020 . 
2. ↑ Information on the coronavirus (COVID-19). German Embassy Podgorica, 2020, accessed on May 13, 2020 . 
3. ↑ Seventeen tonnes of medical equipment delivered: Montenegro readily enters the period of coronavirus epidemic peak. Government of Montenegro, April 4, 2020, accessed May 13, 2020 . 
4. ↑ There are no tons of medical equipment lost. Government of Montenegro, April 7, 2020, accessed May 13, 2020 . 
5. ↑ Coronavirus live ticker. n-tv , March 24, 2020, accessed on May 13, 2020 . 
6. ↑ Antonela Stjepčević: COVID-19 in Montenegro: NKT mitigated some measures, update April 21, 2020. Total Montenegro News, April 21, 2020, accessed on May 18, 2020 (English). 
7. ↑ How the coronavirus is spreading in Europe. Deutschlandfunk , May 13, 2020, accessed on May 13, 2020 . 
8. ↑ Simona Asam: The country is promoting itself as a "soon to be corona-free holiday destination" - the holiday season begins on July 1st. Münchner Merkur , May 11, 2020, accessed on May 13, 2020 . 
9. ↑ Antonela Stjepčević: Porto Montenegro Already operational, Expects More Yachts to Come Soon. Total Montenegro News, May 17, 2020, accessed May 18, 2020 . 
10. ↑ Antonela Stjepčević: Montenegro Airlines Hopes to Reestablish Commercial traffic in June. Total Montenegro News, May 17, 2020, accessed May 18, 2020 . 
11. ↑ Antonela Stjepčević: Today is the Day: Reopened cafes, restaurants, Beaches, shopping malls. Total Montenegro News, May 15, 2020, accessed May 18, 2020 . 
12. ↑ Antonela Stjepčević: Current information on COVID-19 for tourists in Montenegro. Total Montenegro News, May 15, 2020, accessed May 18, 2020 . 
13. ↑ Mila Radulović & Biljana Matijašević: Nimanbegu: Za slobodne izbore ima uslova, ali uvijek može bolje. vijesti.me, May 18, 2020, accessed on May 18, 2020 (Montenegrin). 
14. ↑ Antonela Stjepčević: COVID-19 in Montenegro: Almost Corona-Free, Update May 18, 2020. Total Montenegro News, May 18, 2020, accessed on May 18, 2020 . 
15. ↑ Tufik Softić: Više od 50 odsto građana misli because each virus vještački. vijesti.me, May 15, 2020, accessed on May 15, 2020 (Montenegrin). 
16. ↑ National Coordination Body warns gas stations: providing catering services will result in closure of facilities and criminal charges. Government of Montenegro, April 5, 2020, accessed May 13, 2020 . 
17. ^ National Coordination Body seeks urgent action by Prosecutor's Office, Nikšić at epidemiological risk. Government of Montenegro, May 12, 2020, accessed May 13, 2020 . 
18. ↑ Montenegro: Bishop and priest arrested for corona violation. Handelsblatt , May 12, 2020, accessed on May 13, 2020 . 
19. ^ Predrag Milic: Serbia protests priests' detention in Montenegro. Government of Montenegro, May 13, 2020, accessed May 13, 2020 . 
20. ↑ Tufik Softić: Policija Bacila suzavac, razbijena blokada kod Andrijevice. vijesti.me, May 13, 2020, accessed on May 13, 2020 (Montenegrin). 
21. ↑ Svetlana Mandić: Moleban u Nikšiću, prisutna veća grupa vjernika. vijesti.me, May 13, 2020, accessed on May 13, 2020 (Montenegrin). 
22. ↑ Biljana Matijašević: Mandić: Htjeli smo da pozovemo na blokadu svih puteva, odustali smo nakon poziva Amfilohija i Episkopskog savjeta. vijesti.me, May 13, 2020, accessed on May 13, 2020 (Montenegrin). 
23. ↑ Serbian priests arrested: Police smash protest with tear gas (PHOTOS & VIDEOS). Kosmo , May 14, 2020, accessed May 14, 2020 . 
24. ↑ Uprava policije: Odgovorićemo efikasno na sve oblike nasilja. vijesti.me, May 14, 2020, accessed on May 14, 2020 (Montenegrin). 
25. ^ Orthodox bishop in Montenegro still in custody despite protests. Kathpress , May 14, 2020, accessed on May 14, 2020 . 
26. ^ ^{A b} Montenegro: Metropolitan Amfilohije expands church structures. Kathpress, May 12, 2020, accessed on May 14, 2020 . 
27. ↑ Biljana Matijašević: Episkopski savjet: Osloboditi sveštenike, politički lideri da se uzdrže od zloupotreba crkve. vijesti.me, May 13, 2020, accessed on May 13, 2020 (Montenegrin). 
28. ↑ Belgrade condemns the arrest of clerics in Montenegro. "Deeply concerned". Domradio , May 14, 2020, accessed on May 14, 2020 . 
29. ↑ Svetlana Mandić: Građani Nikšića tražili oslobađanje Joanikija i sveštenika, protest protekao bez incidenata. vijesti.me, May 14, 2020, accessed on May 15, 2020 (Montenegrin). 
30. ↑ Svetlana Mandić: Amfilohije u Nikšiću: Došao sam da zatražim oprost od Joanikija, ja sam glavni krivac. vijesti.me, May 15, 2020, accessed on May 15, 2020 (Montenegrin). 
31. ↑ Croatia donates medical equipment to Montenegro: Solidarity, togetherness and friendship are priceless in difficult times. Government of Montenegro, May 12, 2020, accessed May 13, 2020 . 
32. ↑ Minister Darmanović: Donation of Hungary is gesture of solidarity, humanity and confirmation that allies support each other in difficult and challenging times. Government of Montenegro, May 12, 2020, accessed May 13, 2020 . 
33. ↑ Filipović: Turkey's donation is expression of solidarity of Turkish people with Montenegro. Government of Montenegro, April 8, 2020, accessed May 13, 2020 . 
34. ↑ Medical protective equipment and two ventilators donated by PRC arrives in Podgorica. Government of Montenegro, April 16, 2020, accessed May 13, 2020 . 
35. ↑ Donation of Austria is expression of friendship and support: Montenegro is a credible member and reliable partner in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Government of Montenegro, May 7, 2020, accessed May 13, 2020 . 
36. ↑ Valuable medical equipment donated by Jack Ma and Petros Stathis arrived in Montenegro. Government of Montenegro, April 10, 2020, accessed May 13, 2020 . 
37. ^ Slovenian businessman of Montenegrin origin Izet Rast or donates valuable protective equipment. Government of Montenegro, April 15, 2020, accessed May 13, 2020 . 
38. ^ New shipment of medical aid donated by Jack Ma and Petros Stathis arrives in Podgorica. Government of Montenegro, May 2, 2020, accessed May 13, 2020 . 
39. ↑ ^{a b c d} Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation reports. WHO, accessed May 3, 2020 .