Bosnian health authorities recorded a spike in numbers today, with 21 new cases, 18 of which came were confirmed in the Bosniak-Croat Federation (FBiH) entity, and three in the Serb-dominated Republika Srpska (RS) entity.

Both entities also recorded a fatality each. In both cases, patients suffered from multiple chronic diseases.

When it comes to the reasons for the spike, the FBiH health officials say that 14 cases are related to the newly formed Covid-19 cluster in the northern Bosnian town of Tesanj, where a leather factory had to close due to several of its employees who contracted the virus.

Head of the Tesanj Municipality Crisis Staff Suad Huskic told Fena news agency that this cluster now counts 28 patients consisting of company employees and their immediate family.

“The company has 80 employees and it closed on May 23. Their first case was discovered on May 21. Since then, 15 employees tested positive for the disease, and the rest are their family members or primary contacts,” Huskic said, adding that they now need tests and PPE, which they expect to receive following numerous donations of medical equipment from abroad.

He added that 12 newly discovered patients with Covid-19 have already been placed in the Zenica regional hospital and that the rest will be taken there in the coming days.

According to the state Civil Affairs Ministry, Bosnia now has 2,435 confirmed coronavirus cases of which 1,744 recovered and 151 had died.