The head of the Serbian Public Health Institute said on Tuesday that there are no new coronavirus pandemic hotspots, only individual cases and added that the rise in the number of recoveries was due to a change in criteria.

Dr Verica Jovanovic, CEO of the Batut Institute, told the Serbian state TV (RTS) that the Pandemic Crisis staff decided at last Friday’s meeting to change the classification criteria for recovery to include everyone who tested negative following a 14 day isolation period after a positive test.  

The daily pandemic bulletin said on Saturday that more than 4,000 people had recovered overnight, drawing public criticism.  

She said that the epidemiological situation is stable, adding that new cases have been placed under strict surveillance.  

The media reported rises in the number of new cases in Kragujevac and in student dormitories and a kindergarten in Belgrade. The doctor said those are all individual cases and warned that the easing of pandemic prevention measures could lead to more cases.