Double Digit Figure of Infections as Albanians Urged to Co-Live with Coronavirus

TIRANA – A double digit number of the coronaviruws cases was announced on Wednesday a trend which has been evident in the curve showing the progress of the pandemic in Albania where specialists have failed to find a common language on the real situation and ensuing impact of Covid-19.

“Twelve new positive cases have been identified from the testing of 255 people suspected of being carriers of this virus,” said on Wednesday deputy Health Minister Mira Rakacolli, who, as it was learned today, is the head of the Experts’ Committee on the pandemic. Opposition has insisted to know the composition of this ‘mysterious’ group of experts, claiming in numerous statements that PM Edi Rama was running everything to hide the reality. A diplomatic source has told Argumentum that two specialists of the Tirana –based WHO Office are consultants in the specialists committee.

The total number of confirmed cases in Albania has risen to 832 on Wednesday, said Rakacolli according to whom the double digit number- trend has prevailed in the last three days. Last week there were days when the number of infected persons was one digit number. But the data revealed that the cases are spread proportionally and the ‘map’ is Fier 3 cases, Kruja 3, Kamza 3, Shkodra 2 and Capital Tirana 1. The town of Kruja continues to be a problematic area and Kamza is also turning into a hotspsot of the infection, according to the daily medical bulletin.

Rakacolli informed also that 595 out of the total number of the infected persons have recovered and that only 206 cases remain active. “The situation is stable in two COVID-19 hospitals because there are only 36 hospitalized patients,” she said.

In face of the relaxation of restrictions a medical expert conveyed a video message telling Albanians that coronavirus has changed the way of living and a new normalcy should be established in the country regarding citizens’ behavior.

Doctor Entela Kolovani said that social distancing should become part of citizens’ lives, and personal hygiene would remain of prime importance.

“Although the figures are optimistic and I hope that this optimism will remain the same in the coming days, we will still try to get used to a new normalcy,” she said warning that the new normalcy will not be as before. Such a new situation, according to her message, calls on Albanians to be careful people and respect social distancing and personal hygiene. “We will take all the measures that will help us to prevent the spread of the infection. Coronavirus will make us live differently,” was the advice of Kolovani carried in her video message distributed by the Health Minister, Ogerta Manastirliu on Wednesday. /argumentum.al