Press statement by Silva Bino, Public Health Institute:

Fifteen Covid-19 patients recovered in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 131 in Albania.

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

Tests were conducted on 182 suspected individuals, out of which only 6 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed in the past 24 hours.

So far, tests have been conducted on 2753 suspected cases and 383 of them have tested positive for the Covid-19.

A total of 22 citizens have lost the battle with this disease so far despite the incredible efforts of the health personnel.

Fifteen more patients have recovered in the past 24 hours, bringing the total of recovered Covid-19 patients in Albania to 131.

We inform you that out of the total 67 patients at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, five are in intensive care.

Seven patients are being treated at “Shefqet Ndroqi” University Hospital, the second Covid-19-only patient hospital in the country, six of whom are in intensive care and three of them in assisted breathing.

A total of 74 patients are currently being treated at both hospitals.

The number of Covid-19 infected people has further increased in Tirana, Elbasan, Korça.

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

– Tirana               181 cases

– Durres               38 cases

– Lushnja              5 cases

– Elbasan             11 cases

– Fier                    26 cases

– Kavaja                 8 cases

– Rrogozhina        4 cases

– Korça                 17 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 number in new coronavirus cases shows they have significantly dropped today, an evidence showing that the epidemiological study and the efforts to track down the new cases and their contacts has worked properly and they have done according to protocols.

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. The number of new Covid-19 cases in the past few days shows a surge of cases within same family and therefore 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.