Serbia to end state of emergency

Serbia will end its state of emergency over the coronavirus next week, as the rate of infections has slowed sufficiently, President Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday.

The lifting of the state of emergency – involving closure of borders and airports, a daily curfew, and weekend lockdowns since mid-March – should be ratified by the government-controlled parliament on Wednesday, Vucic said in a broadcast by the private Pink TV.

The Balkan nation has confirmed 9,464 cases and 193 people deaths from the COVID-19 disease, but infections have declined to under 5% of the thousands of people tested daily, epidemiologists say.

Serbia will next week restart bus and rail services and allow commercial flights later in May.

Shopping malls, cafes and restaurants will also reopen on condition they maintain social distancing.

To help the economy, which faces recession this year, Belgrade also introduced a 5.1 billion euro ($5.6 billion) support programme for small businesses.

Read more via Reuters

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