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Prizren in quarantine
As of Monday (April 13th), Kosovo's second-largest city, Prizren is actually in quarantine. This was confirmed by the mayor of Prizren, Mytaher Haskuka, who said on Facebook that the decision was agreed with the acting Minister of Health, Arben Vitia. This decision comes after 16 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Prizren on Sunday, raising the number of infected to 19.
Pristina is also in quarantine
As of Sunday (April 12), Pristina has entered quarantine after 20 new cases of coronavirus detection. The Minister of Health, Arben Vitia, in consultation with the Mayor Shpend Ahmeti, has decided to declare Prishtina as a quarantine area, banning entrances and exits in this municipality. "Not a good day for Prishtina. Out of the 25 contacts of the infected person a few days earlier, 20 were tested positive. The good news is that all are the contacts of the infected person. The bad news is that now we need to increase restrictive measures in Pristina", wrote Ahmeti.
The mayor of Ferizaj is worried
The Mayor of Ferizaj, Agim Aliu, has anxiously awaited the increase in the number of cases of coronavirus in this municipality. With 35 new cases on Sunday, the balance of those affected by COVID-19 in Ferizaj rose to 55, ranking immediately after Malisheva. "Citizens, please stay at home, let's not play with the fate of thousands of fellow citizens, let's not allow Ferizaj to slip into the scary wave of the spread of the virus. Stay at home, take maximum care of your health, let us do our job and have the situation under control", warns President Aliu in a Facebook post. Ferizaj is also in quarantine from Sunday.
Turkey helps Kosovo in dealing with Covid-19
Kosovo has received aid from Turkey, which includes medical equipment and protection measures for institutions to manage the crisis created by the new coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
Turkey has sent medical aid to Kosovo to support the fight against COVID-19, under the guidance of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The masks, overalls and rapid diagnostic tests prepared by the Turkish Ministry of Health were loaded on the A400M cargo plane at the Etimesgut Military Airport in Ankara, from where they departed to Pristina. "After despair there is a lot of hope. After darkness there is a lot of sun," wrote in Turkish and Albanian on aid packages, words from the mystical poet and scholar Mevlana, known also as Rumi.
The donation ceremony was attended by the acting Minister of Health, Arben Vitia, the incumbent Minister of Infrastructure, Lumir Abdixhiku, the Political Adviser to the President of Kosovo, Ardian Arifaj, and the Turkish Ambassador to Pristina, Çağrı Sakar.
Kurti thanks President Erdogan for his help
The outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the medical assistance he has provided to Kosovo in the fight against coronavirus.
Through a post on his Twitter account, Kurti wrote that he thanks the Turkish people for his generosity, at this time.
"Thank you Erdogan and the Turkish people for your generous support to help us win the war against coronavirus," Kurti wrote.
Further in his thanks Kurti says that this will be remembered by future generations.
"We are all together and both we and the people in the countries will respond to COVID-19 and this will be remembered by future generations," Kurti wrote.
President Thaçi also thanks President Erdogan
On Wednesday, the President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, thanked his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for Turkey's assistance in masks and medical equipment that help to manage the situation in Kosovo.
"Today we received a package of medical assistance from Turkey that will help in the fight against COVID-19. This is the first aid from abroad that has reached Kosovo", writes Thaçi.
He thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
"We are grateful to President Erdogan, the state of Turkey and the Turkish people, who have come to our aid even in this difficult time, which we will overcome together," Thaci wrote.
Kosovo is in solidarity with the United States at a time of pandemic
The incumbent Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has said that the Kosovar people are deeply saddened that half a million Americans have been infected with coronavirus, this is because the American flag has been placed in the Kosovo's government building.
"In the darkest days, America has shone like a beacon of hope for millions of people, and today we are together for solidarity," Kurti said.
Kurti has a telephone conversation with President Macron
Kurti announced that he had held a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, who had promised to increase the role of France and himself in facilitating dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. According to Kurti, the French president told him that "as soon as the right conditions are created, the Paris Summit on Kosovo-Serbia relations will be organized, under the supervision of France and Germany," the government statement said.
It is announced that Emmanuel Macron has expressed his support for the resumption of trade between Kosovo and Serbia, after the removal of the tariff from Kosovo on April 1.
According to Kurti, "his government sees reciprocity with Serbia, the effective implementation of what is contained in the Brussels agreements."
"The effectiveness of the dialogue depends on Europe's participation. Europe cannot be replaced by any other continent, nor can France be replaced by any other state. Europe is both the environment and the perspective of normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia," he was quoted as saying to French President Emmanuel Macron, in a telephone conversation.