Statement by the Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu:

The applications for the social assistance will be carried out electronically or via the postal service. Around 64,00 families will receive double social assistance payment.

I would like to inform citizens that the lockdown measures designed to curb the spread of the COVID-19 will extend indefinitely.

The following will stay close until the coronovirus outbreak is over:

Kindergartens, schools and nursery schools – all public and non-public education institutions.

Bars, restaurants, clubs, fast-food shops and the accommodating structures that offer services to customers.

All public and non-public events, ban of mass gatherings in indoor and outdoor spaces (conferences, concerts, various events, meetings etc. will be banned.

Orders to suspend all planned surgical interventions in both public and non-public hospitals extend until this situation is over.

I want to explain to citizens that starting today the families entitled to the social welfare benefit will receive the payment without having to report and make the application in person, as entire application procedure is now carried out electronically only.

According to the order I have signed, the social administrators at the local administrative units are responsible for completing the applications for the social assistance, carrying out the process electronically or via the telephone to assist all applicants in order to benefit the due payment as soon as possible.

The applications for the economic assistance will be received by the social administrators at the administrative units electronically or via the postal service.

Around 64,000 households will benefit double social assistance payment during the entire natural disaster period.

People with disabilities will also receive uninterrupted payments and the assessment of the disability and working capacity levels will be conducted once the COVID-19 pandemic is over.