Tirana, March 13 – Coronavirus cases continue to increase in Albania. Health authorities announced on Friday 10 new cases, including a doctor from the Durres hospital, where a 73-year-old who woman passed away two days ago, due to health complications.
The total number of the infected is now 33.
Eight are hospitalized in a stable condition while the others are in self-quarantine. 177 persons also are being monitored while in self-isolation.
The map of cities with coronavirus cases has expanded. In addition to the capital city, Tirana (19 cases), Durres (5 cases, one of which has died), Lushnja (1 case), Elbasan (2 cases) and Rrogozhina (2 cases) Fier was added to the list with 4 cases. Of the 10 new cases, one in Tirana and one person in Fier have traveled to Italy, but have no connection with other infected persons.
Regarding the situation of the medical staff of the Durres hospital, Deputy Health Minister Mira Rakacolli announced that “after testing the first sample of 50 doctors and nurses, and they were negative; the Institute of Public Health continues to monitor the contacts, testing of new samples of medical staff at the Durres Regional Hospital. Based on the current results, from the second samples taken, 39 from the doctors, nurses and patients, only 1 doctor tested positive; he has no symptoms, is currently self-isolated and is being investigated,” Rakacolli informed.
Silva Bino, head of the Department of Epidemiology and Infectious Disease Control at the Institute of Public Health, said that the WHO has already declared a coronavirus pandemic to be taken seriously.
“The WHO has declared a pandemic of the new coronavirus, which means that the world has community transmission on more than 2 continents. This is a situation that needs to be taken seriously, and measures taken for social distancing must be taken seriously. We will continue to track cases on the ground and it is not necessary for every person to be tested,” Bino said.
As a result of the coronavirus outbreak Albania is in lockdown. From 06:00am on Friday until Sunday midnight, private cars and transportation vehicles are banned in 8 cities: Tirana, Durres, Elbasan, Lushnje, Fier, Vlore, Shkodra and Lezha. Over 500 drivers have been punished by police patrols for violating the traffic ban.
