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

The updated results of the ongoing epidemiologic investigation in the past 24 hours are as following:

Tests were conducted on the samples of 252 suspected individuals, out of which 25 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed in the past 24 hours.

The epidemiologic investigation and the efforts to track down contacts of the confirmed cases tested positive for the virus are underway with more 18 fresh cases detected in Kruja, three new cases in Tirana, two in Elbasan, one Shkodra, and one case confirmed in Kurbin.

So far, tests have been conducted on 6269 people and 634 of them have tested positive for the Covid-19.

A 71-year-old patient from Durres passed away in past 24 hours, bringing the Covid-19-related death toll in Albania to 27. The victim had been under intensive care for two weeks at University Hospital Shefqet Ndroqi and suffered from underlying health conditions including diabetes, cardiopathies, heart arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation.

Eleven 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 356.

All coronavirus infected patients in Berat, Lezha, Mirdita, Rrogozhina and Tropoja have already fully recovered.

Currently 251 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 for more than a week now.

Out of a total 33 patients currently being treated at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, four are under intensive care.

Out of seven patients being treated at the COVID 2 Hospital, four are at intensive care unit and in severe health conditions.

A total of 40 patients are currently being treated at both hospitals.

The number of new Covid-19 infections has further increased in Kruja, Tirana, Elbasan, Shkodra, and Kurbin.

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

– Tirana              256 cases

– Durres             42 cases

– Lushnja          6 cases

– Elbasan         18 cases

– Fier                36 cases

– Kavaja           9 cases

– Rrogozhina   4 cases

– Korça            19 cases

– Vlora             5 cases

– Shkodra       100 cases

– Lezha           14 cases

– Berat             2 cases

– Has              13 cases

– Kruja            58 cases

-Tropoja         4 cases

– Puka            5 cases

– Mirdita       3 cases

– Kukes         11 cases

-Mallakastra  1 case

– Kurbin        28 cases

Despite the fluctuations in the number of people contracting the virus, the situation is equally under control.

The real indicator is the number of patients hospitalized and their number is stable, less than 15% of the active cases.

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.