TRANA – The unchecked spread of COVID19 has taken the lives of 21 people last week taking to 76 the total number of fatalities in Albania where the daily number of infected cases varies from 60 to 80, local health authorities reported on Sunday.
With some 74 coronavirus cases confirmed during the last 24 hours Albania saw the number of infected people increasing steadily for the fourth week in a row.
Sunday’s spike in the number of cases brings the total up to 1,160 active infections across the country. According to the Albanian Health Ministry, the country has now 2,893 confirmed cases of COVID19 and 76 deaths as two citizens have died during the last 24-hours.
As lockdown has eased, the situation has changed dramatically in Albania and official figures show that the number of new infections tripled during June which is in deep contrast with the situation when lockdown was imposed in the country.
A broad discussion is underway with a focus placed on the use of face masks as a means to check the spread of the virus. But, as specialists say, people are not responding positively and there are some experts who demand from the government to issue an order for the obligatory use of face masks. The well known specialist, Pellumb Pipero said in a talk show on a local TV that wearing face masks could reduce drastically the infections and he was in favor of obligatory wearing of face masks. But, he said, that a protocol could be framed where they should be used by everybody.
In the meantime, the Health Ministry has called on all businesses and institutions to consider the possibility that their employees can work from home so that gatherings in working places can be avoided.
Meanwhile the opposition Democratic Party (DP) has not spared the accusations against the Health Ministry holding it responsible for the daily increasing number of cases in Albania. Former DP lawmaker Bardh Spahia published on Sunday a denunciation coming from a patient in Shkodra according to whom no test was made to him although he had shown signs of COVID19..
“Does the ministry have enough supply of coronavirus tests?” was the question put by Spahia, a doctor, who has raised such an issue continuously.
“It is vital for everyone to show caution. But the state must do its job, and make as many tests as possible, and especially respond to citizens who need testing,” said Spahia./ argumentum.al
