The situation concerning the novel coronavirus outbreak got very serious globally and it cannot be ignored, Bosnia Presidency member Milorad Dodik said on Saturday, adding that the Presidency will give approval for setting up of military tents at every border crossing, where the citizens coming from western countries would spend two weeks for preventive reasons and then released to continue the journey or go back to the original destination.

“The Presidency will give its constant for that, I talked to other two (Presidency) members,” Dodik said following a meeting with the officials in Republika Srpska, Bosnia's Serb-dominated part.

“We agreed to set up military tents at every border crossing, which will be equipped with beds and other things necessary for a 14-day stay,” he stressed.

“It is the fact that our calls were not taken seriously. It is the fact that a huge number of our people is coming from the west and they are potential carriers. This is the moment that requires full solidarity and self-consciousness of people,” Dodik added.

Bosnia recorded 18 COVID-19 infection cases with 15 of those infected in Republika Srpska only. All of them either recently arrived from one of the western Europe countries or were their close family members. Three other infection cases were recorded in the Bosniak-Croat Federation region.

“This will be a very difficult month and a half but we will prove that we are capable to fight something that is ‘not a part of us’. I urge everyone to do their best, not only conducting the measures but to do personally everything in their power,” said Dodik.

“This is not the first crisis we are in, but although the coronavirus has been here for several months, it seems like it was not taken seriously,” he added.