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| Albanian Prime Edi Rama in a public appearance today |
“There are many self-employed families where the head of household declares his minimum wage but declares his wife is employed, without pay. Anyone registered as self-employed with no salary in a small business will receive a monthly salary. These are 60,440 people and the amount of 710 million Lek of new salaries declared by those who closed the small business in this time of war, will become 1.57 billion new leks.” said today the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.
He detailed that the state would give the small business twice the amount declared as peacetime payments, compensating all small business employees or self-employed who cannot work today because of the quarantine.
On the other hand, the government will allocate twice that amount to 70,000 families with financial assistance, usually receiving 340 million leks. Also, all unemployed in the state aid register will receive double the unemployment benefit.
"There are 123,000 families more in need than others in this country that need help," Mr Rama said, reiterating calls for citizens to stay locked in their houses until the danger passes.
Also today, the European Union announced a concrete EU initiative for Albania to fight COVID-19. "4m euros for immediate equipment and health support; 11m euros for social protection; up to 35m euros for economic recovery. The EU always with Albania in times of need", the EU ambassador to Tirana Luigi Soreca wrote on social networks.
Earlier, another COVID-19 patient died in Albania, despite 10 days of intensive care at the Infectious Disease Hospital.
The 49-year-old Tirana patient who was hospitalized for 13 days at the Infectious Disease Hospital was also suffering from diabetes. Five people affected by COVID-19 have died in Albania so far.
Even the director of the National Emergency, dr. Skender Brataj has been affected by COVID-19 after the analysis.
The news was confirmed by the health ministry. He is also a member of the State Emergency Staff.
In the last 24 hours, 19 new cases of COVID-19 were discovered after 74 tests were performed.
A total of 123 people were found affected by 930 tested cases.
There are 57 hospitalized patients in the Infectious Disease, 2 of them in intensive care, the rest in stable condition.
The cities of Lezha, Hasi and Berat were also added recently to the map of areas affected by COVID-19, while the most affected cities are Tirana, Fier, and Korça.