Nationwide state of crisis could be declared by Friday evening at the latest, said Prime Minister Zoran Zaev after the Security Council at Thursday’s session proposed that the government declare state of crisis lasting 30 days.
Speaking to members of the media, Zaev said that the declaration of state of crisis does not involve restrictions to the movement of people, but it will allow the state to better manage resources in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The government and the institutions have been fully prepared for this move. After the Security Council session, I’m going to the government to order the Managing Committee, which is tasked with proposing that the government declare state of crisis. The government will hold a session by tomorrow evening at the latest. If all institutions are prepared from a legal point of view, we are ready to declare state of crisis this evening or tomorrow evening at the latest,” Zaev stated after the Security Council session,
Although curfew or lockdown isn’t being considered at the moment, he said, it isn’t ruled out completely.
“The Commission for Infectious Diseases is in charge with that. My duty is to tell the citizens that a state of crisis has nothing to do with curfew, it doesn’t restrict their movement,” Zaev said reiterating some of the government’s recommendations, including no going out after 9 pm unless necessary, wearing of masks and social distancing.
We expect the people to abide by the state of crisis, because there is a very good reason to declare such state, the PM said.
State of crisis, Zaev explained, allows better management of all resources.
After a state of crisis is declared, the Crisis Management Center gets more powers. Also, local crisis management HQs will be set up in all 80 self-government units in the country that will get additional powers to manage all state and private resources in the country, according to him.
PM Zaev further elaborated that the coronavirus statistics have shown that there is a need to manage hospital capacities, including medical staff.
“So far, we’ve only had public healthcare at disposal, we will also use the resources and capacities of the public healthcare with the sole purpose of gathering enough human and hospital capacities, meaning beds and personnel,” he said.
