The COVID-19 pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was confirmed to have reached Bosnia and Herzegovina on 5 March 2020.As of 3 September, there were 20,892 confirmed coronavirus cases in the country, of which 7,584 were in Republika Srpska,12,931 in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina,and 377 in Brčko District.On 17 March, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina declared a state of emergency in the entire country.
On 21 March, the first death in the country from coronavirus was announced in a hospital in Bihać. The patient was an elderly woman who had been hospitalized two days before.On 23 March, the first cases in Brčko District were confirmed. The cases were two people who arrived to Brčko from the Caribbean via airports in France and Serbia.On 29 August 2020, war criminal Momčilo Krajišnik tested positive for COVID-19.On 15 September 2020, Krajišnik died from COVID-19.
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. 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
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. Some cities, such as Visoko, installed hand sanitizers through the city, in addition to frequent overnight disinfection of streets. 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.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.On 29 March 2020, time for curfew was changed to 20:00 until 05:00. Curfew in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was until 24 April 2020.
As of 31 May 2020, the public gathering is allowed for up to 100 people indoors and up to 300 people outdoors. 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. 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.The Minister of Health and Social Security, Alen Šeranić, reported that 2,026 people are under surveillance in Republika Srpska. Šeranićalso noted that only citizens arriving from abroad would be allowed the virus testing, and quarantine will be made mandatory.
Macroeconomic simulations in the report “COVID-19 Analysis Economic Consequences for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Measures and Solutions” by Admir Čavalić, Faruk Hadžić and Damir Bećirović show that BiH, ceteris paribus, will face a GDP decline in 2020 ranging from 3.97% to 9.53%. Worst-case scenario foresees by the end of the year the rise in the number of unemployed to 96.767. The analysis emphasizes current negative macroeconomic trends in BIH (instability of pension systems, economic slowdown to 2.8% in 2019, migratory trends with estimated 50.000 people leaving Bosnia annually) which makes the country very vulnerable to the current crisis. The strongest impact is expected in the healthcare and unemployment benefits sector. It is estimated that at least two billion KM (more than €1 billion) will be required for this purpose.
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