TIRANA – First phase of the pandemic is over with 6 new cases confirmed on Sunday the lowest number ever since the outbreak of the contagious disease on March 9 this year.
“Albania has seen a reduction in the number of daily COVID-19 infections, dropping from 34 cases a day last week to only six this Sunday,” Gentiana Qirjako, a representative of Health Ministry, said in the daily briefing on Sunday.
According to the predictions, the dropping trend of the infections with the coronavirus will continue in the coming days, but caution is asked in view of the facilitation of the movement restrictions and the opening of a large number of businesses.
“This beautiful Sunday will be followed by continuous relief in the following days, but there is still the concern regarding individual behavior according to the rules of health protection for oneself, family and society!” said Prime Minister Edi Rama, who, as a matter of fact, seems to have turned into the main announcer of ‘dos and don’ts’ during the progress of the pandemic.
There are actually 795 infected persons in total in Albania with Covid-19 out of whom 591 have recovered, while 31 have passed away. Currently, there are 233 active patients: 33 of them being in two COVID-19 hospitals in Tirana and only 7 in intensive therapy.
“Out of 197 tests performed during the last 24 hours for persons suspected of COVID-19, there are only 6 positive cases found in Kruja and Kurbin and only 1 positive case in Tirana,” said health expert Qirjako.
Prime Minister Rama announced that the relaxation of movement will follow in next coming days, but he draw the strong attention to what he called ‘the individual behavior’ of each citizen in order not to allow the return of the virus. “Until the vaccine is produced, the whole world is moving towards a new normalcy with reasonable restrictions starting with the raising of the awareness of each of us,” said Rama.
In a live conversation on a local TV on Sunday afternoon Eugena Tomini from the Institute of Public Health (ISHP) was happy to declare that the first stage is over. Nevertheless she did not use the word ‘peak of the pandemic’ something which continues to be a controversial issue in Albania as none has said it is over.
According to Tomini, the second stage might put forward new threats because people will be faced with asymptomatic and symptomic situations, and as she said the personal behavior is determinative.
A new set of relief measures will be applied starting from May 18 which will be made public in the coming days, officials have said. /argumentum.al
