TIRANA, March 13 – Kosovo has closed its border with Albania and put restrictions on citizens entering the country as the number of cases rose to 33 on Friday in Albania.
The Border Management Centre in Kosovo announced that only health vehicles, first aid vehicles, government vehicles, and goods transport vehicles will be allowed to enter Albania.
Authorities said that these measures will last until at least March 15, when the current lockdown in Albania ends.
This morning the Albanian Minister of Health announced that there are 10 new cases of Coronavirus in Albania since yesterday. These include 19 cases in Tirana, five in Durres, one in Lushnja, two in Elbasan, four in Fier and two in Rrogozhina.
Eight of the infected have been admitted to Tirana’s infections diseases hospital and the remaining 25 cases are in a stable condition, self-quarantined in their homes. So far, one person has died from the infection.
A government order banning the movement of all private vehicles came into force on March. Only those with permission to travel or specific vehicles such as state vehicles and goods transport are allowed to travel. The police and army have been on the streets monitoring the situation and have detained over 50 people for breaking the rules so far.
The lockdown will stay in place until Sunday at midnight when it is expected that the decision will be taken whether to extend it or not.
Tirana, Durres, Shkodra, Lezhe, Elbasan, Vlora and some smaller cities have all implemented these measures as well as closing all shops except pharmacies and grocery shops.
Public transport is also canceled and anyone needing to travel for an emergency, or to the airport is required to call the police beforehand to give them the car registration number and other details.
