OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE MEŽICA MUNICIPAL CIVIL PROTECTION STAFF DURING THE FIRST WAVE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

This paper addresses the operational activities carried out by the Mežica Municipal Civil Protection Staff during the first wave of the Covid-19 epidemic or pandemic (13 March – 30 May 2020). The Mežica Municipal Civil Protection Staff were active even before the National Disaster Response Plan for the Occurrence of an Epidemic or Pandemic of a Communicable Disease in Humans, Version 1.0, was activated. We carried out the following: activities for the provision of emergency medical assistance to people and animals; the provision of accommodation; the provision of supplies of drinking water, food, medication and other basic necessities of life to inhabitants who had fallen ill or were at risk; ensuring the operation of emergency communal infrastructure; ensuring adequate waste and wastewater management; and the proper handling of mortal remains. We organized and carried out tasks in the provision of basic living conditions, and assisted the inhabitants at risk and the affected inhabitants in the area of personal and mutual protection. In carrying out these activities, we followed the principle of precaution, the principle of priority, the step-by-step principle in the use of forces and resources, the principle of mandatory enforcement of decisions, the principle of publicity, and the principle of free-of-charge aid.