The situation in the north adds criticism to government

Under local authorities' measures, no one can leave these two municipalities except for food and medicine supply movements. The ban on the movement went into effect at 1: 00 a.m. on Saturday and will continue until 5:00 on Monday. Such a move has been imposed in Serbia.

Northern Mitrovica Mayor Goran Rakic said the decision followed the demands of health institutions.

“due to the appearance of new cases of coronary infected in our municipality (North Mitrovica) and the municipality of Zvecani and with the aim of protecting our citizens, given the specific situation of our municipalities, we are obliged to declare Zvecan and Northern Mitrovica territories under quarantine”, he said.

Kosovo police forces and peacekeeping forces blocked the central bridge over the Iber River, which also marks the city's partition line in Mitrovica in the Serb-dominated north and the majority Albanian south.

Developments in the north prompted reactions in Pristina.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said the situation created in northern Kosovo municipalities “is unacceptable and is the result of the Kosovo government's negligence and irresponsability to help and protect Kosovo's citizens and territorial integrity”.

In a post on the social network Facebook he wrote that Kosovo's “government does not dare to allow municipalities in the northern part of Kosovo to operate outside the management of institutions and competent bodies for preventing COVID-19” pandemic. According to him, “has thus been created illegal operational space for Serbia's authorities within the territory of the state of Kosovo”.

The Democratic League of Kosovo, which is part of the government in office, expressed “concerns about developments in the country's north”, where the situation according to the correct, “in addition to problems with pandemic, is getting worse even with Belgrade's continued interventions. As always, Serbia does not care about the fate of Kosovo citizens in the north, but its goal is to expand influence in these municipalities. The Democratic League of Kosovo expresses its concern about how the decisions of Serbia's authorities are being applied to the quarantine of municipalities in the north. Even more disturbing is the fact of the silence of the Government of Kosovo in the face of this direct entity of state sovereignty”, said a communique of this party.

Democratic Party Chairman Kadri Veselin said Serbia's act, for extending its state of emergency to Kosovo's two municipalities, is a serious violation of sovereignty.

This outgoing government is making the most serious act of surrender-capitalisation of a part of our territory. This dismissed prime minister should not be allowed to proceed with these serious mistakes in succession. Therefore, the Democratic Party of Kosovo calls on all state institutions to take urgent measures to restore sovereignty in the north. Also, without wasting time, this dangerous situation necessarily requires the Security Council meeting to handle this situation with the maximum seriousness. Mr. Wessel said underlining that he has warned earlier of the danger the prime minister will return Serbia to Kosovo.

Social Democrat Initiative Chairman Fatmir Limaj wrote on Facebook network that The “entry into quarantine of the country's northern municipalities with the Serbian government's decision is violation and serious violation of Kosovo sovereignty”.

He said the north and any part of Kosovo could be isolated only with the decision of the country's institutions, if previously deemed such a thing is necessary. The disturbing “is also the silence of the outgoing prime minister, acting as if nothing has happened”, Mr. Limaj wrote.

But Kosovo government officials said the health ministry is involved in managing the situation in Kosovo's two northern municipalities.

In a written response to the Voice of America, government spokesman Progress Kryeziu said that The health ministry is fully involved in the emergency public health situation in the northern municipality of Mitrovica and Zvecan. In charge of the health minister, Arben Vitita is in regular and constant contact with the mayors and responsible authorities in these” municipalities.

Mr. Kryeziu said Kosovo is facing a health crisis and that all institutions involved are in full co-ordination and close co-operation with the aim of overcoming this situation.

This virus knows neither race nor ethnicity, so its treatment should not be done with those bases. The government remains committed to implementing all measures imposed after the situation created with COVID 19, which are aimed at first and solely preserving the health of citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, indiscriminately”, The spokesman Kryeziu said.

In Saturday evening hours, incumbent Health Minister Arben Vitita called for political assessments to be put aside.

The Ministry of Health has been in co-ordination with local authorities in the northern municipalities for any action, and we are still in co-ordination with them. The North Mitrovica and Zvecan quarantine decision has been made by the Health Ministry with full co-ordination with local authorities. I take responsibility if not. All political differences to put aside, primary is the health of our citizens. Indiscriminately, we will offer our assistance at every corner of the country”, the ministry said.

The number of people infected with coronarys in Serb-inhabited environments has gone to 22, while a member of this community has died from the effects of infection at a hospital in Nis, a town in southern Serbia.

The total number of infected in Kosovo according to the National Public Health Institute is 135.