Press statement by Genta Qirjako, Public Health Institute:
As part of the daily briefing, we provide you with the latest updates and information on the on the spread of the Covid-19 infection in our country.
Tests were conducted on the samples of 247 suspected individuals, out of which 34 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed in the past 24 hours.
Despite a surge in the new coronavirus cases today, the majority of them are asymptomatic cases, showing no symptoms of the disease and the individuals who have contracted the virus are mostly close contacts of the previously confirmed cases tested positive for the virus. The epidemiological investigation continues in Kruja, the new coronavirus hotbed in the country, where 18 fresh cases have been detected in the past 24 hours.
A new case detected in the district of Mat is a contact of a previously confirmed case tested positive for the virus in a garment factory in Kruja.
No new asymptomatic cases have been detected in other garment factories and this clearly shows that conduct and respecting the rules are crucial to the fight against the novel coronavirus.
In the past 24 hours, six more cases were identified in Kukes, all close contacts to the confirmed case detected a day ago, four cases in Tirana, two in Kurbin, one in Lushnja, one in Berat and one imported case from Greece that was identified after being quarantined in Permet. This patient is being treated at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Tirana.
So far, tests have been conducted on 7015 people and 712 of them have tested positive for the Covid-19.
Nine more patients have recovered in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of people who have recovered after having contracted the novel coronavirus in Albania to 403.
Currently 282 people are active cases in Albania and data show that the percentage of those who have recovered has overtaken the number of the active cases and such trend remains unchanged.
Out of a total 32 patients currently being treated at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, four are under intensive care and one intubated.
Out of eight patients being treated at the COVID 2 Hospital, four are at intensive care unit and two of them intubated.
A total of 40 patients are currently being treated at both hospitals.
The map of the infected people expands to include Mat and expands further in Kruja, Tirana, Kukes, Kurbin, Berat, Fier, and Lushnja.
Currently, the geographical distribution of the infected patients across Albania is as follows:
Tirana 289 cases
Shkodra 103 cases
Kruja 83 cases
Durres 42 cases
Fier 37 cases
Kurbin 31 cases
Korça 19 cases
Elbasan 18 cases
Kukes 18 cases
Lezha 14 cases
Has 14 cases
Kavaja 9 cases
Lushnja 7 cases
Vlora 5 cases
Puka 5 cases
Mirdita 5 cases
Rrogozhina 4 cases
Tropoja 4 cases
Berat 3 cases
Mallakastra 1 case
Mat 1 case
Social and physical distance and maintaining personal hygiene remain the only weapons in our hands as a community to curb the spread of the infection.
Therefore, we urge all citizens and entrepreneurs in particular, to strictly respect the rules as the economic activity is gradually reopening in the country.
We also remind all citizens that until a vaccine is developed, we will all need to live and work while being always alert against the risk of infection.
With the ease of certain restrictive measures, in order for the situation to be kept under control, it is vitally important that citizens strictly heed the instructions from the health authorities, social distancing rules in particular in shops, workplaces, and public transportation means.
It is equally important that measures to curb the spread of the infection are fully respected within the family circle by avoiding visits to the relatives for whatever the reason.
The Ministry of Health appeals citizens to dial the National Emergency Line 127 if they suspect about Covid-19 symptoms. For any question or information about Covid-19, dial green line 0800 40 40.
