The Technical Committee for the COVID-19 outbreak propose for the Second Phase of the reopening strategy to continue. At a regular meeting today, attended also by Prime Minister Edi Rama, the Committee reached such conclusion following a thorough assessment of the facts concerning the Covid-19 outbreak situation to date.
“Main indicators are according to the outbreak forecast, demonstrating that the proposed strategy has been a well-thought and right one, which shows that the epidemic is under control. Hence, we propose for this strategy to continue with reopening on May 11 and further reopening on May 18, however by always strengthening the infection surveillance not only in the high risk or red zones, but also in the green zones, increasing also the health alertness as doctors and medical personnel are now trained. Further reopening should be also associated with increased checks and inspection actions by the relevant structures to look into ways how the safety protocols become complete,” said Prof. Mira Rakacolli in here capacity as the chair of the Technical Committee of Experts.
“As infection diseases doctor and as member of the Technical Committee of Experts I can say that we are at a stage, where thanks to the care shown by authorities and thanks to the observation of the measures in place, we are at the disease’s optimum parameters. What worries me most as a specialist is that reopening should not be seen as a sort of a blowout, in other words we should not give up the good premises for ourselves and the people around us, but instead observe and respect them continuously. New infection cases could increase if the measures are not observed by everyone. The country is less likely to be hit by another mass wave of coronavirus in the fall, yet it may re-emerge alongside the common flu and other seasonal respiratory infections. It would be the population’s immunization the one to break the infection chain of the Covid virus. I think this is an opportune moment we should maintain,” leading Doctor Tritan Kalo appealed.
Prime Minister Rama shared same concern over the citizens’ behaviour and care that is vital to efforts for the situation not to escalate.
“I am really concerned about the possibility that with further reopening people could forget the fact that despite reopening this invisible enemy is still there among us and if we were not to observe and abide by the rules we could well fall prey to another invasion, because the second wave, as I have already been told by you, would be not a re-emergence of the enemy alongside fresh forces, but it would be the consequence of the people’s surrender because of the wrong behaviour under the power of the virus, which is actually here,” the Premier said.
The Head of the Epidemiological and Infectious Disease Control Service at the Public Health Institute, also member of the Technical Committee of Experts, Prof. Silva Bino said that testing for the coronavirus has tripled, whereas number of confirmed cases testing positive for the virus has declined. “We have tripled the number of tests this month and the rate of the cases testing positive stands at 5%, which is a very good indicator in terms of the infection control and prevention. The yesterday’s rate of cases testing positive for the virus was under 5% as we should maintain it. This is the reason why we are taking measures to increase the number of tests to actively detect Covid-19 cases. With the rate of the spread of the infection declining, any case should be detected actively. This is the reason we are resorting to some new methods regarding identification of the new cases, by involving the family doctor and integrating all public health services,” Bino said.
“We are carefully monitoring the ratio between the confirmed positive cases, be them either self-isolated ones, or the total number of the recovered patients, currently at a rate of 71.85% out of 842 confirmed cases that have tested positive to date,” said Albana Fico, Director of the Public Health Institute.
“A total number of 250 infected people have been hospitalized at the Infectious Disease Hospital and 170 of them have recovered. Currently a total of 30 patients are hospitalized, a relatively low number, but some of them are in severe health conditions or almost under intensive care and maximum health treatment is provided to them,” said doctor Najada Como, the head of the Infectious Disease ward at the University Hospital Centre in Tirana.
“The National Healthcare Emergency Service is keeping the situation under control. It is worth mentioning the fact that the number of calls for healthcare have decreased significantly. A total of 222,000 calls have been registered since March 9 or at an average of 4800 calls daily, whereas a total of 2035 calls were registered today. Likewise, the number of calls via the green line “0800”, around 36,000 calls since March 19, at an average 730 calls every day, compared to 380 calls today. It is also positive the fact that the number of emergency check-ups has also decreased, whereas the Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms ask for treatment at home, and not at hospital,” the Director of the National Emergency Service Skënder Brataj said.
The Minister of Health and Social Protection dwelled upon the ongoing serological tests. “The initial results of the serological tests have been found following a two-week intense work at the University Hospital Centre. I want to point out that the serological tests include the samples of the first risk group, which is the medical personnel and the identified Covid-19 patients, according to a scheme that is being assessed by the Technical Committee of Experts. So far, results show whole system is well-organized, as well as high quality treatment and care service delivered to the citizens, because, as the data show, no deaths have been recorded in the past nine days and this is something that makes us really happy. We are seeking to maintain such indicators, but raising the population’s awareness is of tremendous importance along with the utmost care, personal behaviour as we go on with the next stages of reopening process in line with the recommendations of the Technical Committee of Experts,” Health Minister Manastirliu said.
PM Rama noted that almost all sorts of businesses will reopen by May 18, except the public transport, about which a decision has yet to be made. “Plan is clear. Around 90 percent of the businesses and activities will reopen by May 18. The only remaining matter of concern is the public transport, including buses and minivans, and the intercity transport in particular, but also the urban transport. We are still exploring ways for a compromise formula on public transport. Yet we still don’t know what this formula would be. Meanwhile, the rest of businesses will ease significantly, of course by avoiding gatherings of more than ten people at once,” the Premier said.
Likewise, members of the Technical Committee stated that despite various claims there is no evidence showing that the Covid-19 may have arrived in the country since January.
“In my opinion and given the results of tests I have come across I don’t think that the Covid-19 was here since January or earlier. The disease has been imported from our neighbour after spreading first in Italy,” said Prof. Andi Koraqi, the head of the Microbiology Laboratory at the University Hospital Centre in Tirana.
