TIRANA – As the highest number of infected persons with coronavirus was made public to be 42 in Albania on Wednesday, local health authorities warned of the seriousness of the situation in press conferences.
“The virus is spreading as the country is totally emerging from the lockdown,”said doctor Marjeta Dervishi of the Institute of the Public Health (ISHP) while unveiling the daily bulletin on the situation of the pandemic across Albania.
According to the information provided by her, 297 tests were made and out of them 42 cases were confirmed to be positive, respectively, 21 in Tirana, 9 in Shkodra, 4 in Durrës, 3 in Kruja, 2 in Lushnja, 1 in Puka, 1 in Berat, and 1 in Ura Vajgurore.
“We still have a long way to go with regard to the pandemic. Today we have registered the highest daily increase of infections,” Dervishi said, adding that most of the virus-affected people were found in Tirana where the number stood at 21 persons.
With the new cases the total number of affected people with coronavirus jumps to 1,341 in this Balkan country.
“Currently, 46 people are being treated in the infectious disease hospital, 8 of whom are in intensive care, one of them is intubated,” Dervishi said.
Although alarmed, Health Minister Ogerta Manastirliu said that Wednesday’s situation is within expectations. She recalled that after the relaxation of restrictions there was belief that things would go well only if a basic condition was met and that was the cooperation of citizens.
The minister said it was necessary for everyone to take their civic responsibilities in order to protect themselves and others. “The medical system is at the highest level of readiness and the work on the ground has not stopped for a moment, to reveal any case and contact, to break the chain of infection.”
Following Tuesday’s assessment of the situation by some specialists on local TVs the impression was created that there would be such a high increase of the affected people in Albania. Most of them were worried by the lack of respect of the social distancing and other measures needed to be applied when as they said the COVID-19 is among the people. Some specialists have hinted that if the situation aggravates then restrictions should be re-imposed./argumentum.al
