COVID-19 pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[9][10]

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[11][12] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[13][11]

Up until 25 February 2020, 12 people were under surveillance as suspected cases.[14] In Sarajevo, three Chinese tourists who were showing symptoms had negative test results for the virus.[15]

On 2 March, a man from Tomislavgrad was suspected to have brought the virus from Italy, and was sent to Mostar for a health checkup. His test result was negative.[16]

A number of cases in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are related to one congress held in Konjic on 11 March 2020, where company "Igman" from Konjic marked 70 years of company existence, and where around 200 people were present.[25][26] Beside confirmed cases of people from Konjic, among those people there were confirmed cases of people from Visoko,[27] Tešanj,[28] Goražde,[28] Novi Travnik[29] and Sarajevo.[30] This case got media attention after it was revealed that one person from Serbia was present at this event, and after he got back to Serbia he was confirmed positive for coronavirus.[31] Since this confirmation on 16 March, all participants have had to go into obligatory self-isolation, and among people present on this event there were Bosnian singer Berin Buturović who was positive for coronavirus,[32] as well as Bosnian politician Fadil Novalić who received a negative result.[33] On 24 March, the first death from this cluster was reported, who was a driver of the director of this company.[34]

The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced Armed Forces' placement of quarantine tents at the country's borders intended for Bosnian citizens returning home. Every Bosnian citizen arriving to the country is obligated to self-quarantine for 14 days starting from the day of arrival. Tents will be set up on the northern border with Croatia.[35]

On 15 March 2020, Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued a decision which forbids for foreign nationals entering Bosnia and Herzegovina to enter from areas with intensive transmission of virus coronas, and especially from: Provinces of the PRC (Wuhan), South Korea, Japan, Italy, Iran, France, Romania, Germany, Austria, Spain, Switzerland and Belgium.[36]

On 24 March 2020, Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued a decision which bans entrance for all foreigners, and also from 30 March 2020 all borders at airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be closed for passengers, and airplanes could land only to deliver cargo.[37] On 21 May 2020, Council of Minister adopted a decision which allows entry and stay of a foreigner who enters Bosnia and Herzegovina due to business obligations, provided that they have an invitation letter from a legal entity from Bosnia and Herzegovina that hires them in Bosnia and Herzegovina and a certificate of a negative test for SARS-CoV-2 virus from an authorized laboratory, not older than 48 hours from the time of entry.[38]

Triage tent located in Sarajevo during coronavirus pandemic

Disinfection tunnel located in municipality of Novo Sarajevo

On 11 March, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, had enacted a 2-week shutdown of all schools, high schools and universities in order to contain the spread of the virus,[39] which was later prolonged by all cantons.[40]

On 16 March, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina already had acts of profiteering. Fines have already been passed to local pharmacies and stores who used this situation and high demand for anti-bacterial gels/sprays and surgical masks. They lifted the prices as much as 3 times of the usual price.[41] Federal inspection has given out fines in the sum of 43,500 km (~22,000 Euros).[42]

One of many hand sanitizers attached to a lamp post in Visoko

The Headquarters of Federation of B&H issued on 18 March an order that banned all public gatherings, suspending the operation of all catering facilities for the preparation and sale of food and beverages, restaurants, pizzerias, confectioneries, beauty salons, hookah bars, coffee bars, discos, tea shops, cafes, private dentists.[43][44]

Some cities, such as Visoko, installed hand sanitizers through the city, in addition to frequent overnight disinfection of streets.[45][46]

The civil protection service of Federation of B&H on 20 March 2020 issued an order, which banned the movement of people under the age of 18 and over 65 in the Federation of BiH.[47]

On 21 March 2020, a curfew was introduced for the entire Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina every day from 18:00 until 05:00, and its implementation started on 22 March 2020.[48] On 29 March 2020, time for curfew was changed to 20:00 until 05:00.[44] Curfew in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was in force until 24 April 2020.[49]

Croatia national football team manager Zlatko Dalić donated 40,000 HRK to Fra Mihovil Sučić Hospital in his hometown Livno, as well as Utah Jazz and Croatia national basketball team player Bojan Bogdanović who donated 50,000 USD to University Clinical Hospital in his hometown Mostar.[50]

The group of researchers from the University Clinical Hospital Mostar reported the mortality was 5% during the first two months of the COVID-19 pandemics in Mostar. Furthermore, they concluded that fewer COVID-19 patients per million inhabitants died during the analyzed period, as compared with that in richer countries.[51]

On 18 April 2020, final examination for the students of primary and secondary education were cancelled in Canton Sarajevo.[52] Few days later, Tuzla Canton had also cancelled final examination for the students of primary and secondary education.[53]

As of 31 May 2020, the public gathering is allowed for up to 100 people indoors and up to 300 people outdoors.[54] Also during the course of May, BiH representatives have allowed work in most of the industries including cafes, private medical services (such as dentists) restaurants and beauty saloons with respecting the social distance as well as hygiene. Night clubs are still under restrictions.[55]

Coronavirus street disinfection in Doboj.

Republika Srpska was first to implement measures, beginning from cities of Banja Luka and Doboj, where business hours were either limited or all business completely forbidden. The Ministry of Health and Social Security ordered the disinfection of all public spaces and property.[56] Student dormitories in the city of Banja Luka were evacuated for immediate disinfection.[57]

On 10 March 2020, Republika Srpska had officially enacted a ban on all public gatherings, shut down all schools, and banned entry to all tourists coming from any of the COVID-19 infected countries across the world in order to contain the spread of the virus within the country.[58]

Between 12 and 13 March, numerous cities have made decisions to limit the work of grocery stores, restaurants, cafés and completely limit the work of gyms and fitness centers. Banja Luka,[59] Čelinac, Prnjavor,[60] Mrkonjić Grad and Doboj[61] are some of the cities that made these restrictions.

On 15 March 2020, Banja Luka has decided to close all restaurants and cafés in the city, with the exception of drugstores, hotels and motels, where drugstores will be working until 22h and hotels will be working until 18h.[62]

The Minister of Health and Social Security, Alen Šeranić, reported that 2,026 people are under surveillance in Republika Srpska. Šeranić also noted that only citizens arriving from abroad would be allowed the virus testing, and quarantine will be made mandatory.[63]

On 21 March 2020, a curfew was introduced in entire Republika Srpska every day from 20:00 until 05:00,[64] and a total ban of movement for people older than 65.[65] During certain holidays (Easter, Labour Day and Đurđevdan), curfew time was prolonged.[66][67] Curfew in Republika Srpska was in force until 22 May 2020.[68]

On 28 March 2020, the National Assembly declared the state of emergency in Republika Srpska,[69] which came into force on 3 April 2020.[70]

The Government of Brčko District is regularly adopting measures for control and prevention of coronavirus pandemic and publish them on their official website.[71] Since 22 March 2020, it is prohibited in Brčko District to gather and move in public places and open or closed public areas in a group of three or more persons throughout the day, and a curfew was introduced in entire Brčko District every day from 21:00 until 05:00.[72][73] On 7 May 2020, the curfew time was changed from 22:00 until 05:00.[74] Curfew in Brčko District was in force until 22 May 2020.[75]