Serbia reports first COVID-19 case

Serbia has reported its first case of COVID-19, the country's health minister Zlatibor Loncar confirmed Friday.

Loncar said during a news conference that the patient is a 43-year-old man who lives in the northern city of Subotica. The man had recently returned from Budapest, where he spent time with his sister.

According to the minister, his sister had symptoms including respiratory issues and fever when he visited.

Upon returning to Serbia, the man started showing the same symptoms and isolated himself at home with his wife, before reporting his case to authorities shortly after.

Loncar said the patient, who is quarantined at the Subotica Hospital in northern Serbia, is feeling well and there are no complications.

He revealed that relevant authorities have started testing people in recent close contact with the man and are awaiting results.

"There is no room for panic; we expected this. It is unrealistic to think that there is a virus-free country. This is a global problem," said Loncar.

He praised the response of medical workers and relevant authorities, stressing they have demonstrated the country's readiness to handle the outbreak.