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Health and Travel Alert – November 16, 2020
14 MINUTE READ
November 16, 2020

Health and Travel Alert – U.S. Embassy Belgrade, Serbia (November 16, 2020)

Location: Serbia

Event: As of November 15, the Serbian Ministry of Health announced 84,568 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Serbia and 1,009 deaths. 11,527 people have been tested in the past 24 hours, with 3,482 confirmed cases among them. In total, there are an estimated 3,847 hospitalized cases.

(New) country-wide measures from the Serbian Government:

  • Effective Tuesday, November 17, and until at least December 1, all services, including bars, restaurants, cafes, stores, supermarkets, shopping malls, theaters and cinemas, will be closed overnight from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.  These restrictions do not apply to pharmacies, gas stations and food delivery services.

(Previous) country-wide measures from the Serbian Government that remain in effect:

  • Ban on public gatherings involving more than 5 people, indoors or outdoors.
  • No more than one person per 4 square meters is allowed indoors.
  • The use of face coverings is required in all indoor locations, as well as outdoors when required physical distancing is not possible, for example waiting in line to enter stores or at bus stops.  Face coverings are recommended elsewhere outdoors.
  • Visits to patients in hospitals are banned.
  • Visits to elder-care homes are limited to 15 minutes.
  • The recommended distance between people outdoors is 1.5 meters.

Entry into Serbia for U.S. citizens (travelers, tourists, non-residents in Serbia):

The measures enacted on August 14 remain in place: all foreign travelers, U.S. citizens included, seeking to enter Serbia from North Macedonia, Croatia, Bulgaria, or Romania, will need to provide a negative PCR test, taken within the previous 48 hours.  Please note that August 14 requirements are being reported as only applicable to foreigners arriving from these four countries, and do not apply to: (1) those with permanent residence in Serbia (*see September 18 measures); (2) crew members and passengers transiting Serbia for less than 12 hours (including cargo vehicle drivers); (3) children under age 12 accompanied by parents who have valid PCR test results; or (4) properly accredited diplomats and their families.

Entry into Serbia for U.S. citizens (permanent residents in Serbia):

The Serbian Government reported that beginning September 18 at 18:00, it will require all Serbian citizens, as well as foreigners resident in Serbia (U.S. citizens resident in Serbia included) to undergo the following COVID-19 health monitoring measures upon arrival to Serbia:

  1. Take a self-assessment test at e-zdravlje.gov.rs the day you return to Serbia.
  2. The result of this test will determine whether you then report to a COVID-19 clinic. If you cannot fill out the online questionnaire, you should contact your local Institute of Public Health by phone for instructions.
  3. Print or save the results of your self-assessment as proof that it was completed.
  4. On the 10th day after your arrival to Serbia, you should take the self-assessment test one more time.

Travelers should be prepared for restrictions to change with little or no advance notice. Visit the website of the Government of Serbia for additional information.

U.S. citizens are encouraged to enroll in our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts, and check our Embassy COVID-19 webpage for updated information as it is released.

The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory for Serbia is Level 3: Reconsider Travel.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Warning for COVID-19 advising travelers to avoid non-essential travel.

U.S. Department of State recommended actions: 

Assistance: