TIRANA – After the enthusiastic statement of the Minister of Health Ogerta Manastirliu and that of Education, Besa Shahini on the opening of schools in September the Prime Minister Edi Rama confirms the announcement which is accompanied with much caution.
Through a post on ‘Facebook’ Rama claims on Tuesday that schools will be opened, while emphasizing that this is a delicate issue that has not yet been decided by many other countries in the world. Responding to the opposition’s accusations, the head of government stated, “Every step towards opening schools and protecting health from this difficult decision is being coordinated with maximum responsibility.”
He said that many countries have chosen different ways to open schools or not a few countries have not yet decided whether to open them.
“Every step towards opening schools and protecting health from this difficult decision is being coordinated with maximum responsibility by the institutions for guaranteeing social distancing measures and safety protocols, as well as the dynamic assessment of the epidemiological situation in the country,” Rama wrote.
Earlier Education and Health ministers Besa Shahini and Ogerta Manastirliu were cut and sharp in the announcement on the opening of schools.
“There is no dilemma. Schools will start on September 14,” Health Minister Ogerta Manastirliu said leaving no room for any other alternative in case the deadly virus aggravates the so far tragic situation in Albania.
In the meantime Education Minister Besa Shahini said there are different scenarios on the opening of schools, and the scenarios refer to schools where classes can be held normally, while some others will apply many shifts.
Both ministers said strict protocols were being prepared.
There are numerous anti-C19 protocols for different fields in Albania but since mid July until August 17 the spread of the epidemic has stepped up and the death toll is higher than 300. Dr. Kita Sallabanda, who is part of the medical teams that have treated patients with coronavirus in Madrid at the height of the pandemic, said on TV Klan on Tuesday that the high mortality of patients with Covid in Albanian hospitals is a fact that is viewed with concern.
In an interview for TV Klan, the neurosurgeon compares the results of treatment in Spain with those of Albania and says that “Deaths are much higher in Albanian hospitals than those in Spain.”
But the Albanian Health Minister says the level of danger of the C19 virus in schools is lower comparing it with other hotspots of the pandemic.
“The transmission of the disease in schools has been rare and if the necessary prevention measures are taken there is little possibility for them to be effective environments for the increase of the transmission of the virus more than in other places with the same density of people as in working places and entertainment venues,” said Manastirliu.
Just to refresh the memory dozens of government, medical, and working places have been shut because employees were infected and there have been cases ending in fatalities. With regard to the entertainment venues relevant health authorities say they are the most threatening places of the spread of the virus. /argumentum.al
