Newsflash/Ministry of Defence of Republic of Serbia
These startling images show how the Serbian government has converted a huge convention hall into a makeshift hospital for a potential 3,000 coronavirus patients.
The Serbian Army has completed the adaptation of the largest hall of the Belgrade Fair located in the Serbian capital into a makeshift hospital with 3,000 beds.
Local media report the hall will be used for the reception and accommodation of people with the symptoms of COVID-19 and should be fully functional from today (Friday).
The Serbian government decided hopes the temporary hospital will help them deal with the spread of the virus more effectively and said there will be more around the country.
The Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabic stated: “I saw comments asking why we are not using hotels? Because more police, military, security is needed that way. The second reason is that the whole intention is early detection, early treatment, to make everything more effective.
“That is why it is important to have people in one place so that we can immediately detect who is not feeling well and if they have stronger symptoms. We believe that this is the way we will fight it effectively.”
According to local media, part of the adapted space will be divided into separate rooms that will host five to nine people at most.
Brnabic said: ” We will have rooms for five to nine people, televisions, table tennis, and various additional facilities so people feel more comfortable.”
” It won’t be a 3,000-person bedroom, we want to make it better and more humane, ”
According to the Serbian government, the country has 457 confirmed cases and seven deaths.
The government has already asked for international aid for the battle against the virus, and have received medical staff help from China and Cuba, as well as received financial support from Norway and the European Union.
Meanwhile, Russia and UNICEF have helped the country by sending medical supplies and COVID-19 tests.
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