Appearing on Happy TV today, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic said that the Republic of Serbia had undertaken all necessary measures to combat coronavirus in a timely manner, thus preventing any "dark scenarios" and that it could be said that the epidemics was under control.

Minister Dacic said that the ongoing situation proved that a strong public health care system was a necessity and something to invest in. He commended the public health care in Serbia, given that it transpired that, despite shortcomings, attention and care provided to people was better than in western countries.

The Serbian Foreign Minister noted that there were no more Serbian citizens stuck at airports and border crossings and that response was immediate to any such new cases, reiterating his call on our nationals not to return to Serbia unless they had to.

According to the Minister, some 5000 people returned so far, half of whom by planes and half by buses and road vehicles.

Plans have been underway for the days ahead, Vienna is scheduled for today and Dubai tomorrow, Malta is planned for Monday, Bratislava and Prague for Tuesday, Oslo for Wednesday and Paris for Thursday, Dacic said.

He stressed that it was not possible to send planes to repatriate each and every Serbian citizen and that the authorities were facing major problems with flight approvals. As regards locations which cannot be accessed by plane, we have advised our people to reach destinations closer to Serbia first, Dacic said.

Asked if the crisis amid the coronavirus outbreak would delay settlement of the Kosovo issue, Minister Dacic said that this topic was now on the backburner.

"It is key to have peace and no conflicts there, while we all fight COVID-19 together", Dacic said.