BELGRADE, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Montenegro has reported its first COVID-19 death, a 65-year-old man who tested positive for the disease shortly before dying hospital, Montenegrin authorities have confirmed.
The patient, from the city of Herceg Novi, was admitted to hospital in Podgorica on Sunday morning for chronic lung disease and analysis of a swab sample confirmed coronavirus infection, said the joint statement of the Institute of Public Health and the Clinical Center of Montenegro.
Boban Mugosa, director of the Institute for Public Health, said the first reported death indicates the epidemic is spreading, and warned citizens to heed "all prescribed measures and orders" to protect themselves from exposure.
Director of the Clinical Center Jevto Erakovic said the patient had spent time in coronavirus-hit Serbia in the first half of this month.
"The medical staff did everything that could have be done, used all necessary protective equipment and all procedures prescribed by the standards for the treatment of such patients," Erakovic added, warning people to take the threat of COVID-19 more seriously.
There are 5,565 people under health surveillance in Montenegro, authorities said. Mugosa said 22 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Montenegro so far.
The country has imposed strict lockdown measures, including the closure of schools, a ban on public gatherings, and restrictions on land and sea passenger transport -- even before the country confirmed the first case.
Since then, the number of people in public institutions has been restricted, while all people returning from abroad will have to spend at least two weeks in isolation. Stores that don't trade vital supplies have been closed, along with cafes and restaurants, while hotels remain open but must adhere to strict conditions.
Several hotels on the Adriatic coast have been designated by the government as COVID-19 quarantine facilities.
