During the first half of August, 442 cases of coronavirus were recorded in Montenegro, the Institute for Public Health (IJZ) said, adding that covid19 does not yet follow clear seasonal patterns like other respiratory viruses.
The health institution told the MINA agency that 2.306 people were tested during the first half of August.
"Out of that number, 442 of them had a positive result for the presence of SARS-CoV in the sample. In the same period, 843 samples were tested in private health institutions, of which 261 had a positive result," said the IJZ.
They stated that there has been an increase in the number of laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV2 infections since June and added that an identical trend was also observed in the first half of August.
In response to the question of whether a new coronavirus pandemic can be expected at the beginning of autumn and during the winter, the IJZ said that the virus that causes covid 19 continues to change, constantly mutating and that it can be expected to continue with this feature.
The IJZ said that the mutations mainly increased the ability of the virus to be transmitted more easily from person to person, as well as to bypass previously acquired immunity.
"From the experience gained during the previous years, it is clear that covid 19 does not yet follow clear seasonal patterns like other respiratory viruses (e.g. flu) which are activated during late autumn, winter and early spring", said the IJZ.
The health institution said that, when it comes to the activity of SARS-CoV-2, an increase in the number of infected people can occur at any time of the year.
They said that in accordance with the current epidemiological situation, they will give recommendations for the prevention and suppression of the spread of COVID-19, which will be updated regularly.
The IJZ said that it is ungrateful to compare the current epidemiological situation in Montenegro in relation to the countries of the region.
"For the reason that each country, in accordance with its capabilities, continued to monitor (surveillance) the situation regarding COVID-19", said the IJZ.
From that health institution, they stated that another reason for that, both in Montenegro and in the countries of the region, the number of sick people is probably many times higher than the registered one, due to the fact that a significant number of people, especially those with milder symptoms, are not tested for SARS - CoV-2.
They said that the World Health Organization announced on Tuesday that an increase in the number of people infected with SARS-CoV 2 has been registered worldwide.
"And that this information on trends in the number of reported new cases and deaths should be interpreted with caution due to the reduced number of tests and subsequent testing of virus characteristics (sequencing), with simultaneous delays in reporting by many countries," said the IJZ.
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