Press statement by the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection, Dr. Mira Rakacolli:

As part of the daily coronavirus briefing, we inform you that work is underway on the ground to identify new COVID-19 cases and trace contacts of the cases tested positive for the virus.

Tests were conducted on 175 suspected individuals, out of which 16 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the past 24 hours.

So far, tests have been conducted on 2571 suspected cases and 377 of them have tested positive for the COVID-19.

Eleven members of the medical personnel have also undergone tests and they all have tested negative for the virus.

A total of 21 citizens have lost the battle with this disease so far despite the incredible efforts of the health personnel.

Twelve more patients have recovered in the past 24 hours, bringing the total of recovered COVID-19 patients in Albania to 116, or 30% of the individuals who have contracted the virus.

Out of the total 66 patients at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, five are under intensive care.

At the COVDID 2 Hospital, seven patients are hospitalised, six of whom are in intensive care.

A total of 73 patients are currently being treated at the two hospitals.

The number of COVID-19 infected people has further increased in Tirana, Durres, Fier, Has, Berat and Shkodra.

Currently, the geographical distribution of the infected patients across Albania is as follows:

– Tirana           177 cases

– Durres          38 cases

– Lushnja         5 cases

– Elbasan         10 cases

– Fier                26 cases

– Kavaja           8 cases

– Rrogozhina   4 cases

– Korça             16 cases

– Vlora              5 cases

– Shkodra         44 cases

– Lezha             14 cases

– Berat              2 cases

– Has                12 cases

– Kruja              5 cases

-Tropoja           4 cases

– Puka              4 cases

– Mirdita         3 cases

The new cases detected mainly in Shkodra, Tirana and Has clearly show the failure of people to respect the social distancing measures and the advices consistently recommended by the Ministry of Health through the daily public communications.

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection once again urges citizens to respect the social distancing measures as the only way to successfully cope with this challenge. It is equally important that the measures to curb the spread of the infection are fully respected within the family circle by avoiding visits to the relatives for whatever reason.

The Ministry of Health appeals citizens to dial the National Emergency Line 127 if they suspect about COVID-19 symptoms.