07.07.2020.

Minister Vulin: In accordance with the order of the President and Supreme Commander Vučić, the Serbian Armed Forces have prepared the Arena for the reception of patients

- The Serbian Armed Forces will fulfil all their tasks. In accordance with the order of the President and Supreme Commander Vučić, they have adapted the Belgrade Štark Arena to its intended purpose and we are ready for all future tasks – emphasized the Minister of Defence, Aleksandar Vulin, who visited the temporary hospital at the Belgrade Štark Arena today, where he made sure that everything was ready for the reception of Covid-19 patients with a mild clinical presentation, and where the members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces were engaged yesterday on setting up beds and the preparation of the temporary hospital.

As Minister Vulin pointed out, just as the temporary hospital at the Belgrade Fair significantly contributed to the preservation of the health system and the adequate use of our capacities in the most difficult days of the fight against Covid-19, so the Belgrade Arena will be extremely useful.

- As of today, whenever the competent medical authorities consider it necessary to send in patients, the Belgrade Arena is ready to receive them. The Serbian Armed Forces will make their contribution, just as they have done so far, they will make a contribution through military doctors, through adequate security, disinfection and everything else that is needed, and they have also helped furnish the Belgrade Arena, this time with the soldiers of the June class who have shown how brave, motivated and ready they are to work for their country, just like their predecessors, soldiers of the March class – Minister Vulin said, adding that by using Arena, we will be able to preserve the capacities of our health system for the patients who need help the most, and people who are already in the recovery phase or who need different type of care will be admitted here.

After the visit, the Secretary of State for Health, Prof. Berislav Vekić also confirmed that the Belgrade Štark Arena is ready for the reception of the first patients.

- Patients who have undergone the most difficult part of treatment, i.e. hospital treatment, and who responded favourably to the therapy will be admitted here. They come here to finish up treatment and to be further monitored, after which they will be tested and will have to self-isolate for the next 14 days – Prof. Vekić pointed out.

He emphasized that it is expected that hospital rounds at the clinical-hospital centres and the Clinic for Infectious Diseases will finish this morning, after which an assessment will be made of which patients meet these criteria, and they will be transferred here during the day.

According to the medical coordinator of the temporary hospital at the Belgrade Štark Arena, Colonel Veljko Milić, experiences and knowledge acquired at the Belgrade Fair temporary hospital were implemented in the preparation of medical care for the patients in the Arena.

- The Belgrade Arena is fully ready for the treatment of patients. We have already received necessary quantities of medicines, protective equipment and medical devices so that we can start work and perform it successfully in the coming period – Colonel Milić pointed out.

Members of the Training Command and the June class of soldiers who are doing voluntary military service at the Second Training Centre in Valjevo are also engaged in setting up and preparing the temporary hospital.

Head of the Military Health Department, Major General Uglješa Jovičić, the Acting Commander of the Training Command, Brigadier General Jelesije Radivojević, representatives of the Military Health Department of the Ministry of Defence, the City Secretary for Emergency Situations, Darko Glavaš, as well as the representatives of the Belgrade Štark Arena also visited the temporary hospital today.