COVID-19 statistics for countries of the region - Montenegro has highest number of patients per 100 thousand

September 6, 2020 - As part of the Risan Time Machine project, two events will be held on Tuesday, 8th September; an evening presenting Miraš Martinović’s literary work, Teuta - Inspiration, Myth and History, and an exhibition of old photographs of Risan - entitled Risan Through Time. Both events will be held at the Roman Mosaics site, starting at 8 p.m.

The exhibition Risan Through Time showcases the rich history of the oldest town in Boka through old photographs. These have been brought together from the albums, archives and scrapbooks of Risan families and those who love this ancient town, and will represent both a visual time machine, and a fitting backdrop for Martinović's literary work.

Risan

Curating the programme are the NGO Koltrina and MZ Risan. The goal of the project is to revive the rich history of Risan through several cultural events. The Risan Time Machine programme is supported by the Secretariat for Culture, Sports and Social Activities within the Boka Time Machine 2020 event.

Miraš Martinović, born in 1952, is one of the most significant Montenegrin writers. HIs first work, The Myth of the Cherry, was awarded the Lazar Vučković prize for literature. In the region and beyond, he is recognized for his work on ancient themes and forgotten landscapes of Montenegro, which he brought to life in prose form: Roads of Prevalis, Revealing Agruvium, Teuta, Dreams of Doclea and Ancient Cities: Dreams and Destinies.

He is also the author of several novels: Heretic,  Babylonian Sages, Aeschylus’ Last Day, The Harpist from Ur, a novel about Njegoš - The Second Sun Shines, and a book of stories, Return to Alexandria.

Martinović’s rich creative treasury also includes works in poetry form: The Invisible Chronicle, The Speech of Kings, The Speech of the Earth, Whispering with Memory, The Bow and the Lyre, Voices from Stone and The Day That Has Not Passed.

His works have been translated into several languages. He is laureate of the Teuta Regional Literary Award and the October Award of Herceg Novi, the town in which he resides. He is a member of the Montenegrin PEN and Matica Crnogorska. The conversation with the author is led by Marija Starčević, Manager of the Kotor City Library and Reading Room.

HRB

September 4, 2020 - The laboratories of the Institute of Public Health have completed PCR analysis of 541 coronavirus samples since the last section, and have confirmed 110 new COVID cases.

New cases have been confirmed in the following municipalities:

Podgorica 38

Berane 20

Rozaje 16

Bijelo Polje 14

Budva 7

Kotor 4

Bar 3

Niksic 2

Pljevlja 2

Cetinje 1

Tivat 1

Mojkovac 1

Danilovgrad 1

Since the last section, two deaths have been reported in COVID-positive patients from Rožaje and Mojkovac, born in 1940 and 1963, treated in Berane General Hospital. The total number of deaths related to COVID-19 since the beginning of June is 97, and since the beginning of the year,106. Recovery has been reported in 39 patients. The total number of active COVID-19 cases in Montenegro is currently 966. Since the beginning of the year, the total number of new COVID cases is 5275.

16 patients are currently being treated at the Clinical Center of Montenegro. As announced by the health institution, three patients were in a life-threatening condition, and connected to non-invasive ventilation.

Masks to be worn in schools

For the start of term on 1st October, students of all ages and teachers in Montenegrin schools will be required to wear masks, and it is recommended that one student be allowed per 4 square meters, the Institute of Public Health states. It is expected that it will be more complex for kindergartens to organize their work, said Dr. Božidarka Rakočević, in an interview for Colors of the Morning on Vijesti TV.

For pre-school children, the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro proposed small groups and for there to be one child only per three square meters. If a child becomes ill, they will be isolated, and in the case of a positive test for coronavirus, their entire group will be tested. These are the recommendations of the Institute of Public Health, referencing the start of term for preschool and school institutions, announced for 1st October.

Dr. Božidarka Rakočević, epidemiologist at the Institute of Public Health, recalled in an interview for Colors of the Morning that the Institute gave recommendations to the competent institutions on the work of kindergartens, schools and universities, and stated that it is up to schools to decide whether they can organize their work in accordance with the measures.

September 4, 2020 - The Strategy for the Development of the Maritime Economy for 2020 to 2030, recently adopted by the Government of Montenegro, aims to improve business in ports and attract investments. One part of the strategy refers specifically to the port of Kotor, and a project to modernise berths in the port. At the same time, the strategy includes options to develop currently underused ports, such as Risan and Zelenika.

The Port of Kotor is divided into two basic sections - the port and the marina. The operational zone of the waters of the Port of Kotor covers a total area of ​​approximately 52,000 m2. The operational shore for mooring ships and mega yachts consists of two berths, with a third on the north side of the operational shore used for mooring smaller vessels, as well as for mega yachts during free traffic and stern-berthing periods.

The operational shore can accommodate ships of approx. 250 metres long, depending on the draft. For ships no longer than 300 metres, planning documentation has been prepared for a mooring pile 80 metres from the end of the current operational area.

To keep up with trends in the cruising industry, and the need to accommodate ever larger vessels - of up to 350 metres, and also provide a greater degree of security for berths, a mooring system for cruise ships on mooring buoys is proposed. These mooring buoys will be of up to 6 metres in circumference, spaced at a distance of about 420m.

Kotor - photo Boka News

The company Luka Kotor AD has operated the port for many years, providing for mainly cruise ship passenger traffic, the strategy recalls. The port infrastructure is in working condition and is regularly used for the docking and supply of vessels.

The strategy includes plans to adapt, reconstruct, build and equip the port of Kotor as a trading port open for international traffic, with an emphasis on the tourist-passenger sector. There are also plans to increase the capacity for ships berthing at port and providing cruise ships mooring at anchor, by installing temporary buoys.

An overhaul of the marina includes the improvement of anchoring, mooring, electrical, and water supply systems, as well as constructing access bridges that have a built-in access control system.

“The modernization of the marina infrastructure will ensure improvements to the billing system itself, as well as preparation of the berth cadastre, and reservation, so that the user of marina services provided by Luka Kotor AD can settle all payments at a toll station that will be operational 24/7,” the documentation states.

The information further states that all pontoons will be modular, which in practice means that, depending on future plans and projection of berth occupancy, capacity could be expanded.

The estimated value of the investment project is EUR 500,000.

The drafting process of the strategic document also recognized the possibility, and potential need, to suitably develop the neglected or underused port infrastructure. Here, the ports of Risan and Zelenika are highlighted as potential that should be tapped for the development of the overall maritime economy.

The port of Risan has 75 metres of operational shore, is about 5 meters deep and has a mooring 75.5 metres long, which was previously used for local maritime traffic. The area of ​​its open operational shore is 1,330 m2 and has four mooring cleats. It also has the possibility of mooring vessels of up to 17 metres long, ie. about five vessels of average size parallel to the coast.

RIsan - photo Boka News

“The public company Morsko Dobro has issued a public call for tender for the preparation of a study on the construction conditions for the Port of Risan, the necessary investments in infrastructure equipment and maintenance, for the preparation of an economic and financial analysis and the concession act,” the strategy states.

The study should include a survey and estimate of works on the maintenance of the facility and possible renovation for a period of 20-30 years, and equipping the marina with pontoons for yacht mooring. Also, the document should contain information on the necessary infrastructural equipment of the marina, installation of a pontoon breakwater, as well as all connected systems for sanitation and drainage of wastewater, and a summary of estimates for works.

The Port of Risan is planned as a local and marine tourism port. Information given states that the plan for granting concessions for local ports adopted already by the Government of Montenegro in 2016 envisaged granting concessions to the port of Risan. Through the concession model, infrastructural equipment will be provided, alongside modernization, maintenance, investments in and use of the port - i.e. provision of port services. The capacity of the marina will be a maximum of 150 berths, while a part of the port is defined as a communal mooring with 30 communal berths.

The Port of Zelenika has the function of a trading port open to international maritime traffic and, accordingly, that of a border crossing at which foreign maritime vessels can perform the necessary procedures when entering the territorial waters of Montenegro.

GP Zelenika - Photo Boka News

- Safe and unhindered entry to the port is possible due to the significant depths at the port approach, and the absence of obstacles for semi-navigation. The border crossing uses the 134-meter-long NW port pier and is physically separated by a fence from the rest of the port. At the pier of the border crossing, relevant mooring, electricity and fuel infrastructure are also provided for. 

- The port of Zelenika still does not meet all the standards provided by law and bylaws necessary for passenger traffic, but there is certainly significant room for further development of the port and opening it up to accommodate ships as an alternative to Kotor - the Government document states.

HRB

September 4, 2020 - The Montenegrin record company Rabbit Records, in cooperation with the Made in New York Competition and Festival INC from New York, is organizing the 5th Made in New York Jazz Festival, Montenegro 2020. The festival will be held tonight from 9 pm on the open stage Synchro in Porto Montenegro and on September 6 in the atrium of "The Capital Plaza" in Podgorica.

Some of the biggest names on the world jazz scene will perform. Tommy Campbell - drums, Calvin Jones - bass, Yaac's Mayman - saxophone / ewi (artistic director of Made in New York Jazz Competition INC and multiple Grammy performer), Stafford Hunter - trombone and player on the seashells (Grammy-nominated performer), Marianne Solivan - vocals. They will be joined on stage by regional and local jazz musicians: Vladimir Maraš - piano/synthesizer, Matija Dedić - piano, Rastko Obradović - saxophone, Sara Jovović - piano, and Milorad Šule Jovović - guitar.

In the renovated Ethno Jazz Club "Sejdefa" in Podgorica, tomorrow, the renowned jazz-funk Reunion Funk Band from Belgrade will present their club performance. Composed of experienced professionals and proven masters of jazz-funk, it will bring us the spirit of American clubs in which groove is an always recognizable program concept. The quintet consists of Ljubiša Paunić Paun (saxophone), Mirko Sokolović (bass), Dejan Hasečić (guitar), Željko Janković (drums), and Filip Bulatović (piano).

The "Made in New York Jazz Festival, Montenegro" is the European sequel of the New York jazz festival, held every year in May in the prestigious Tribeca Performing Arts Center, NYC. The Made In New York jazz festival's founding company is Made In New York Jazz Competition INC from Brooklyn, NY. In cooperation with Montenegrin company Rabbit Records, every year after the New York premiere - Jazz Gala concert in May - there is a special edition of the prestigious festival in Europe, happening in June. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival's 2020 edition was postponed to the end of the summer, and is being held under specific conditions. Yet still it maintains the excellent reputation it has within the countries' cultural context.

The "Made in New York Jazz Festival, Montenegro" was launched in 2016. Over its first four years, the festival hosted over 50 renowned jazz performers from all over the world, with legendary jazz artists mostly from the US, the home of jazz and international guests, participants of the Made In New York Jazz Competition!

14th HSF Program, September 4-9

Friday, September 4

Saturday, September 5

Sunday, September 6

Monday, September 7

Tuesday, September 8

Wednesday, September 9

NKT Mitigates the conditions on entry to Montenegro from the surrounding countries

September 2, 2020 - Laboratories of the Institute of Public Health have completed PCR analysis of 646 samples for the new coronavirus since the last section. They have identified 102 new cases of COVID-19 infection.The total number of active COVID-19 cases in Montenegro is currently 811.

Most new COVID-19 patients are from Podgorica 40, followed by Rožaje 20, Berane 14, Bijelo Polje 9, Nikšić 5, Plav 4, Budva 4, Cetinje 3, Pljevlja 2, Kotor 1.

Since the last section, two deaths have been confirmed in COVID-19 patients treated at OB Berane and the Clinical Center of Montenegro. The deceased were from Bijelo Polje and Berane and were born in 1936 and 1969.

Since the beginning of June, the total number of deaths related to COVID-19 infection is 95. Since the beginning of the year, 104.

Recovery has been reported in 46 patients.

Since March 17, when the first cases were registered, the total number of new coronavirus cases in Montenegro is 5019.

Yesterday, the institute analyzed 479 samples, among which it registered 82 cases of COVID-19, and they confirmed two deaths in patients treated at the General Hospital in Berane. The deceased were from Bijelo Polje and Rožaje, born in 1957 and 1944 respectively.

Forty-five new cases were reported on Monday, detected by PCR analysis of 464 samples. The institute reported two deaths in COVID-19 patients that day, treated at the Berane General Hospital. The deceased were from Plav and Bijelo Polje and were born in 1941 and 1946.

Dr. Marko Begović: Prohibit mass gatherings due to the COVID-19 epidemic

Civil activist Dr. Marko Begović addressed a public message to the National Coordination Body for Infectious Diseases (NKT), the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office, and the Police Directorate and asked them to ban mass gatherings "to remedy the unfavorable public health situation."

 "As the elections are over and the results are accepted by both the participants and our international partners, I would like to address you with the following:

• To remedy the unfavorable public health situation, issue an order, and prohibit mass gatherings.

• The Police Directorate must detect those who do not respect the measures and put themselves and others in danger with their irresponsible behavior.

• That the competent prosecutor's office prosecutes natural and legal persons invited to mass gatherings, including the planned event for September 9, 2020.

Montenegro has many problems that need to be addressed. Montenegro must move forward," Begovic said.

NKT allows an increased number of people at public events

The National Coordination Body for Infectious Diseases (NKT) decided, at the suggestion of the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro (IPH), to allow an increased number of people at public events and cultural and artistic events to the restrictions imposed on other gatherings.

It is possible to gather up to 100 people to hold public events and other cultural and artistic events and festivals in an open public place. Up to 50 people can gather in a closed public place with the organizers' obligation to ensure they respect counter- COVID-19 measures: 

• the event should be held with compulsory seating; 
• physical distance of at least two meters should be respected between persons who are not members of the joint family household,
• compulsory wearing of protective masks and disinfecting hands with an appropriate disinfectant upon arrival at the venue of the event