Serbia Builds 3,000-Bed Hospital Inside Europe's Largest Dome

Around 3,000 beds were moved into an exhibition center in the Serbian capital of Belgrade on Tuesday, March 24, as soldiers helped convert the hall into a makeshift hospital to treat people with the novel coronavirus, the defense ministry said.

The site, Hall 1 at the Belgrade Fair complex, is the largest self-supported dome in Europe and usually hosts events such as trade fairs and exhibitions. The hall was taken over by the government as cases of COVID-19 rose across the country, and as concerns that the country’s health system would become overwhelmed with new cases of COVID-19.

By 3 pm on Tuesday, 303 cases had been confirmed in the country, and three people had died as a result of the virus, officials said.

Defense minister Aleksandar Vulin, who inspected the site on Tuesday, said doctors from China, where the virus was first detected, would assess whether improvements can be made, according to a statement from the ministry.

According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, President Aleksandar Vucic said only people with minor symptoms would be sent to Belgrade Fair Hall. Credit: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty via Storyful