Press statement by Dr. Marjeta Dervishi, Public Health Institute:

As part of the daily briefing on the spread of the Covid-19 infection in our country we provide you with the latest updates and information on the ongoing epidemiological investigation and the efforts to track down contacts of the confirmed cases tested positive for the virus in the past 24 hours.

Tests were conducted on the samples of 264 suspected individuals, out of which 14 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed in the past 24 hours.

The epidemiological investigation continues and 9 fresh cases have been detected in Kruja, four  in Tirana, including a prisoner, and one new case has been identified in Shkodra.

As of today, tests have conducted 7279 people and 726 of them have tested positive for the Covid-19.

Seven more patients, all from the district of Shkodra, 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 410.

Currently 288 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.

A 60-year-old patient passed away at University Hospital Shefqet Ndroqi this morning after complications due to the COVID-19 infection, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related fatalities to 28. The victim had been hospitalized for two weeks and he suffered from underlying health conditions.

Out of a total 30 patients currently being treated at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, four are under intensive care.

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

A total of 36 patients are currently being treated at both hospitals.

The number of people who have contracted COVID-19 further increased in Kruja, Tirana, Shkodra.

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

 

Infected                people            Recovered

Tirana                    293                                183

Shkodra                  104                                55

Kruja                     92                                     7

Durres                  42                                    36

Fier                        37                                     27

Kurbin                  31

Korça                    19                                 18

Elbasan                                 18                                 15

Kukes                    18                                   10

Lezha                      14                                   14

Has                           14                                12

Kavaja                      9                                    8

Lushnja                      7                                  4

Vlora                           5                                 4

Puka                           5                                 4

Mirdita                       5                                3

Rrogozhina                 4                              4

Tropoja                        4                              4

Berat                            3                              2

Mallakastra                1

Mat                             1

 

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.

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.

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.