The Serbian government on March 17 implemented measures to contain the spread of coronavirus, including not allowing undocumented migrants to leave hosting facilities across the country. Migrants will only be permitted to leave the centers where they are staying for exceptional and justified reasons, for example a medical visit, authorities said.

Monitoring efforts increased

Security has been tightened around hosting centers as part of the new measures. The majority of the 6,000 migrants currently in Serbia reportedly live in hosting centers.

President Aleksandar Vucic declared a state of emergency in Serbia on March 15. 57 coronavirus cases were confirmed on March 16.

Northern Italian region praises Serbia for measures

The security councillor of the northeastern Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Pierpaolo Roberti, praised Serbia's measures. "The Serbian government has shown foresight and (a) sense of responsibility" with the temporary ban to reduce the spread of coronavirus, the councillor said. He added that the policy would also "help contain COVID-19 in Friuli Venezia Giulia, given that Serbian facilities are a stopover along the Balkan route, which notoriously reaches our region."

"During this extremely difficulty time, each new entry carries health risks for the community; once they have reached our territory, many migrants circulate and gather in groups, despite restrictions imposed across the country by the government to contain the spread of the virus," Roberti said.

Roberti also expressed the wish that "similar measures will also be taken by Bosnia" and that the "Italian government will increase border checks and completely block illegal migrants, turning away undocumented migrants."