Serbia Emergency COVID-19 Response Project

The objective of the Emergency COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Response Project for Serbia is to prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness. The project has two components. 1. Emergency COVID-19 Response component will provide immediate support to Serbia to enable limiting the local transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) through containment strategies. This component has three subcomponents. 1.1. Case Detection, Confirmation, Contact Tracing, Recording, Reporting subcomponent will help (a) strengthen disease surveillance systems, national reference and public health laboratories, and epidemiological capacity for early detection and confirmation of cases; (b) combine the detection of new cases with active contact tracing; (c) support epidemiological investigation; (d) strengthen risk assessment; and (e) provide on-time data and information for guiding decision-making and response and mitigation activities. The project will implement the following: (a) two additional regional COVID-19 laboratories will be established; (b) additional protective gear will be provided; (c) the COVID-19 human and veterinary labs will be integrated into one electronic medical records system; (d) two walk-in testing points will be established. 1.2. Physical Distancing Measures and Communication Preparedness subcomponent combines activities listed in Component 1 of the global Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA) Project Appraisal Document (PAD) under Social Distancing Measures and Communication Preparedness. (a) Physical distancing is an effective measure to prevent contracting a respiratory virus, such as SARSCoV-2, is to limit contacts with other people. (b) Communication preparedness activities will include developing and testing messages and materials to be used in a pandemic or emerging infectious disease outbreak, and enhancing communication infrastructure to disseminate...