7th day in a row with high COVID-19 new cases in Albania

Tomini while reporting about the pandemic situation in Albania 

 In Albania, new COVID 19 cases marked another culmination today with 69 infected in the last 24 hours. This is the seventh day in a row that the figures are at high levels unregistered even when the epidemic was at its peak.

But according to the authorities, "this period cannot be compared to the peak period under the effect of quarantine measures, due to the fact that we have a longer exposure time and a higher number of contacts during routine activities of the day, where currently 97% of subjects are inactivity ", declared Eugena Tomini, of the Institute of Public Health.

Today's figures show that in just one week, 327 people have been infected or more than 20 percent of the total since the epidemic began, with an average daily of 46 cases, up from 14 in three months since March 9. According to Ms. Tomini, the high increase in the number of new cases "is related to the reduction of vigilance and non-implementation of the rules set by the health authorities." For this reason, “due to the fact that in recent days positive cases are being revealed in some enterprises and commercial entities, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection calls once again on businesses to correctly implement safety protocols at work: to disinfect the premises, to perform ventilation regularly, use protective masks or barriers in any service for citizens, as defined by the protocols of health authorities. Any violation will be considered dangerous for the health of the citizens and as such will be punished according to the laws in force", stressed Mrs. Tomini.

The cases of the last 24 hours have been identified in 10 different cities of the country: 28 infected in Tirana, 16 in Shkodra, 8 positive cases in Kruja, 6 in Vlora, 5 in Durrës, 2 in Elbasan, and 1 case in Kamza, Mallakastër, Puka and Lushnje. Meanwhile, several new cases are under investigation in Tirana, Shkodra, Vlora, Elbasan, Kamza and Durres. There are 499 active cases in the country, half of which are in the capital.

The increase in the number of infected people has been accompanied by an increasing number of patients in the Infectious Diseases Hospital, where according to the authorities “currently 50 patients are receiving services, 7 of them are in intensive care and one is intubated. The average age of hospitalized cases is 60 years. Over 60% of them are from Tirana", announced Mrs. Tomini.