President Vučić visits the works on the construction of the new COVID hospital in Batajnica

"Every day is important as well as the fight for people's lives. It is important that the COVID part is completed by December 1, that we make 700 beds as soon as possible to be able to admit patients and treat as many people as possible," the President said. He added he was immensely grateful to the workers of Termomont for their fighting spirit and desire to do an excellent job for our country.

 

 

"We are waiting anxiously to open at least this COVID part with 500 beds of intensive care in seven days. It will mean a lot to us. When the time of coronavirus passes, then we will use this hospital for other patients. We will invest 60 million euros in this hospital in Kruševac, and count another 30 million euros in equipment, maybe a little more. We managed to pay for all this from our funds to save the health and lives of people," the President said, adding that this hospital will treat people with the moderately severe and critical clinical conditions.

 

"It will be easier if there are no other places where we can accommodate the patients. We will employ some 1,500 medical staff here and 900 in Kruševac," he noted.

 

 

 

President Vučić said that Serbia would intensify testing to coronavirus, because early detection and isolation are critical, as well as the vaccine, for which the state is striving and trying to provide the first volumes in the next month.

 

"We will try to go for 25,000 - 30,000 tests. It is exhausting for all - our laboratory and human and financial capacities. It is an incredible amount of money daily. But, as Austrian Chancellor Kurz said, salvation is in two things - mass testing and vaccines", said the President.

 

He said that following the mass testing, at least those cases who were tested positive - behave more disciplined and in 95% of cases they try not to spread the infection further by taking care of their health condition.

 

 

 

"Early detection and isolation, putting the positive citizens in a safe environment is the essence of the fight against this disease," said President Vučić and pointed out that the state is making an effort in trying to provide the first significant quantities of vaccine in the next month.

 

"We are talking to all countries. We are part of the COVAX; if the EU procures Pfizer, we will as well; we do not ask how much it costs. If they procure Moderna, so will we. But we are also talking to our Chinese and Russian partners. And with the British, for AstraZeneca... We are talking to everyone to see if we can get the vaccine as soon as possible," said President Vučić.

 

President Vučić reiterated that the state would do its best to provide at least a million doses by the end of the year, for health workers, who are suffering terrible pressure.

 

He added that vaccines, in addition to health workers, will then be provided for the army and police.