Serbia is seeing a surge in COVID-19 deaths, with 65 citizens succumbing to the virus over the course of the last 24 hours.

This is the second-highest figure recorded in a day, compared to 69 fatalities recorded on 4 December 2020.

Health authorities tested over 22,000 citizens, while 6,200 samples came back as positive to COVID-19.

Currently, Serbia has 277 patients under ventilators as hospitalizations neared 6,800.

The virus has claimed the lives of 9,826 people.

Authorities have now categorized children as a group at risk after seeing a surge in infections among minors as well, something that has pushed them to consider vaccinating children younger than 12.

At least five children have been hospitalized, of which three are in critical condition.