A negative test for the coronavirus is still required for citizens who visit family members who are undergoing hospital treatment, even though the end of the state of emergency due to covid was declared in May, and recommendations such as wearing a protective mask are not respected even in health institutions.
Several citizens resented the fact that they are still obliged to bring a negative antigen test that is not older than 48 hours, while health personnel who are in constant contact with patients are not tested, nor do they comply with the obligation to wear a protective mask.
This is also the case in child and social welfare institutions, where, judging by the photos submitted to "Vijesta", no one respects the prescribed measures.
The Institute for Public Health (IJZ) replied to "Vijesta" that the recommendations given by that institution for handling visits to health institutions are aimed at hospitalized patients with serious health disorders and that as such they aim to protect them from complications due to infection with some infectious respiratory disease.
They said that "cultural specificities and behavior" in terms of the close direct contact that the visitor has with the patient is an additional reason why a negative test for covid-19 is necessary, in contrast to the medical staff who do not have that kind of risky contact.
"The currently valid anti-epidemic measures mandate the mandatory wearing of protective masks. Control of compliance with the ordered measures is the responsibility of both the management of health institutions and the personal responsibility of the employee. The institute makes recommendations and it is not within its competence to draw up guidelines for actions within health institutions. In this regard, the management of health institutions must be familiar with the guidelines and their internal procedures must be followed, depending on the type of organizational unit," the Institute's response reads.
The government last changed or eased the epidemiological measures in May of this year.
This was done at the suggestion of the Ministry of Health, and in accordance with the decision of the Committee for Emergency Situations of the World Health Organization from May 4 to end the global emergency due to covid, as well as due to the favorable epidemiological situation in Montenegro.
The recommendations of the IJZ on the wearing of protective masks in healthcare and social and child protection institutions remained in force.
The obligation of those infected with the coronavirus to wear a protective mask (N95 or FFP2) for seven days from the day of receiving a positive test result, while respecting general anti-epidemic measures (avoiding gatherings, going to collectives, etc.) remained in force.
A negative result of a rapid antigen test for the coronavirus issued by a registered laboratory and not older than 48 hours is mandatory.
"The obligation of healthcare institutions is to allow visits to persons undergoing hospital treatment by a family member or a person whom the patient wishes to visit, twice a week for a duration of 30 minutes, with the mandatory wearing of a protective mask and hand disinfection, and for visits to semi-intensive units and oncology and hematology departments and with the mandatory possession of a negative result of a rapid antigen test that is no older than 48 hours", the Institute reminded.
They explained that it is the responsibility of the head of the organizational unit to allow the family to be next to the seriously ill patient, occasionally or permanently for a certain period of time, with the mandatory possession of a negative result of a rapid antigen test, wearing a protective mask and hand disinfection, for which he issues a pass.
72 cases of coronavirus were active in Montenegro yesterday. During the last week, 80 new positives were registered, most of them in Budva.
The Institute replied to "Vijesta" that they monitor the epidemiological characteristics of the disease and accordingly propose changes to the new measures. They said that, in case of deterioration or improvement of the epidemiological situation, they will send a proposal to the Ministry to correct the current measures.
Bonus video:
