UPDATE 2 - Mounting cases of coronavirus cases in Balkans

UPDATES FIGURES FROM SERBIA AND CROATIA; CHANGES DECK; ADDS DETAILS FROM SLOVENIA AND MONTENEGRO; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the countries of the Western Balkans continue to rise.

The number of people infected with the virus in Slovenia -- which borders Italy, the worst-hit country in Europe -- rose to 34.

Prime Minister Marjan Sarec on his social media account said his country will close its borders with Italy and Austria.

"I ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to close the border with Italy and Austria. Subject to agreement on joint and proportionate action," said Marjan.

Nina Pirnat, head of the National Institute of Public Health, said there is no epidemic in the country as yet but that prudent measures could prevent one.

The number of cases in Croatia, which also borders Italy, climbed to 15.

Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic called for the cancellation of events with more than 1,000 participants.

Bozinovic announced that people coming into the country from Italy, China, South Korea, and Iran will be kept in quarantine for 14 days.

In Albania, which discovered its first cases of coronavirus on Monday, the number of cases tripled from two to six.

To help stem the spread of the virus, all schools across Albania have suspended classes until March 23.

The number of cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina rose to five.

Bosnian Health Minister Vjekoslav Mandic said they expect more cases of coronavirus as there are currently 248 people in isolation only in the federation, one of two entities of the country.

Serbia’s Health Ministry also announced that the number of cases in the country climbed to five.

Aleksandar Vucic, the president, said that the entry of people from Italy, Switzerland, South Korea, China, and Iran might be banned.

Later on Tuesday, the Serbian government temporarily banned foreign nationals coming from Italy, South Korea, Iran and parts of China and Switzerland due to the virus.

"There is no room for panic and concern because Serbia has reacted responsibly from the beginning and tightened controls at border crossings, especially at the airports," the Serbian government said in a statement.

The number of cases in North Macedonia rose to seven, while officials advised against holding large-scale events

Kosovo and Montenegro have yet to confirm any cases of the virus.

But the Montenegrin Health Ministry issued an order banning travel to the areas most affected by the coronavirus and the entry of foreign nationals from threatened areas to Montenegro.

"Due to the complexity of the coronavirus situation in the world, additional measures have been proposed. Among others, the ban on travel to the most affected countries: Italy, Spain, China, Iran, and South Korea. The list of countries is not final and will change depending on the situation," said head of the Institute of Public Health Boban Mugosa.

He also stressed that a temporary ban on the entry into Montenegro of foreign nationals from the most affected countries is being introduced.